But who do you vote for? They're all doing it!

Just to highlight their lack of grip on reality. Two of the most jaw dropping expensis claims, one for a water pipe under his personal TENNIS COURT! and another to CLEAN HIS [LIFTED] MOAT AROUND HIS MANSION!!!

I have areal problem because I've always been of similar belief as Heather but this is getting to the point where I'm Thinking like veato

I generally ruin my voting card, I was told it shows I want to vote but don't like the options I've got.

It's also quite fun

Who to vote for?

Look out for independent candidates running with a Jury Team banner. I may even be one of them.

I don't know why this is such a surprise. The MPs make their own rules about expenses, who ever thought that was a good idea? They still fiddle them, anyone in any doubt about the corruption of politicians is fooling themselves.

I actually found myself disagreeing with Stephen Fry for possibly the first time in history, he said that MPs expenses don't matter, what matters is the decisions on war, and the things which get people killed (I'm paraphrasing but that's the nub of the gist) What he's not paying attention to is that people who can't even keep their houses in order as far as something like expenses go, definitely shouldn't be making decisions about wars and the things which get people killed!!

I don't think there is a single political party that can say their hands are clean, and perhaps I'm just overly jaded and cynical, but on a level playing field, you have to vote based on policy and manifesto, politicians are all rubbish as far as corruption goes, but if we can't get rid of them and their complacent attitude completely, we have no choice but to vote in the best of a bad bunch.

If memory serves correct the UK socialist party claim the average wage and wouldn't take the mic, but I don't agree with their policies.

On the BBC website it says the MP for Luton claimed £22k to treat dry rot at a house in Southampton. There is absolutely no reason why this person should be allowed to keep theor job IMO. They know at the point they make this claim that they are (even if it is within the rules) bending the rules for their own financial gain. How can it be possible that their 2nd home is in Southampton when they work in London and their constituency is Luton? Its a farce.

"Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik says he is willing to repay a £40 summons for non-payment of council tax claimed on his parliamentary expenses." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/8047205.stm

He's willing to ! FFS how the hell could he have thought he could claim it in the first place

This is the problem. If the 'big 3' are all guilty of this 'crime' then that leaves the smaller parties. But I dont want to vote for them either. BNP? Socialist? Independant? I dont believe any of them could or would do a better job than anything with got right now. As someone said before its a case of picking the best from a bad bunch.

True.

Although he can never recover from the shame of sleeping with a Cheeky Girl!

Well if he Slept it would have been shameful

I agree and (without being unkind) voting for anyone other than the two main parties (or the Lib Dems if you have to) is a bit of a throwaway vote unless there's a massive exodus, widely published, to get the staunch Conservatives and Staunch Labour supporters to change their vote.

I don't think the Lib Dems would know what to do with themselves if they actually got the vote

http://www.juryteam.org/about.php

Please go have a look, especially at the comprehensive list of proposals they've outlined.

Jury Team has been set up to assist independent candidates stand for office. Ordinarily, most independents haven't the wherewithal to do it, but with an independent non-party political system behind them anyone can stand as a candidate.

I'm very seriously considering it. When entries for the next general election kick in, I'll be there to see if I can make it past the primary system.

I've not joined Jury Team - yet - but I'm following their progress with interest because they have caught the mood of the electorate, and me, quite well. The party system is broken, and with help independent candidates can break the stranglehold the main parties have had for decades.

If he has a mansion, then he doesn’t need an expenses account. Clearly he has enough capital to live on without drawing from the public purse.

I am reminded of Social Security rules from a long time back. If you were unemployed, and your mortgage was deemed excessive (there were ways to judge this), that element of the benefit payout would be capped to a lower level. This usually hit the company directors who had massively big houses who found themselves out of work (this was the mid 1980’s when it seemed that everyone was unemployed apart from DHSS staff). In essence, iof someone in that position can’t live on their means, they would be expected to sell up and move somewhere more affordable. In the case of the bloke with the moat, I say the same thing - if you can’t afford your mansion’s upkeep, then clearly you are living in the wrong house.

Sell up and move somewhere cheaper, or stop being an MP and get a job which can support your lifestyle choice. Actually, I’d say this to any of the MPs who have claimed on such frivolities. You’ll notice today how many are getting their chequebooks out. Phil Hope has found £41k lying around which he can pay back. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8047410.stm