Comments on Guy Fawkes' blog of parliamentary plots, rumours and conspiracy: MPs Expenses - A New Hero Emerges

Anon @ 11:06,I didn't write the post to which you'...

2007-10-30T15:49:00.000Z

Anon @ 11:06,
I didn't write the post to which you're referring but I would say two things.

1. Caseworkers often do make a difference and solve problems, much like an MP can. That doesn't mean that they aren't often essentially post-room workers but to suggest that they make no difference, or one substantially greater than that of an MP, is basically false

2. You say "where is your evidence that Kettering has fewer problems directed to its standing MP compared to a Birmingham constituency?"

Now, it is impossible to know but most MPs from poor urban areas beset with social problems employ more staff and split their allowance more. I know of one Labour MP who employs so many people (out of necessity) that he pays caseworkers as little as 10-11k.

Anon 4:39. A lot of twaddle. Your local MP is not ...

2007-10-30T11:06:00.000Z

Anon 4:39. A lot of twaddle. Your local MP is not the citizens advice bureau. If an MP is getting too many letters to answer it is because they are being sent to the wrong person and it is a simple matter to re-direct them to the proper authority.

In any case a caseworker can only respond with some cut and paste fob off letter - they have no power to do anything for the constituent that has a problem.

Finally, where is your evidence that Kettering has fewer problems directed to its standing MP compared to a Birmingham constituency? People in those areas are just as likely to write to their MP, and for the same reasons, as anybody else.

Guido has asked me where he has been misleading in...

2007-10-29T16:39:00.000Z

Guido has asked me where he has been misleading in this post.

It is misleading to suggest that all MPs should just follow Hollobones' example and dispense with their staff and write their own letters. That choice is not open to most MPs and if Hollobone represented Birmingham Hodge Hill he wouldn't be able to go to any debates or select committees at all without staff because he would be answering all of his casework.

All MPs get the same expenses allowance (albeit slightly higher for London MPs)-If Guido wants to get really investigative - why not look into the countless MPs who use taxpayers money to employ their wives as 'secretaries' and also have a real secretary in the office doing all the work!

Hollobone gets far fewer letters to answer because...

2007-10-29T14:40:00.000Z

Hollobone gets far fewer letters to answer because he lives in a Tory area and thus there were far fewer problems caused in the first place. Now in Labour run areas, that is where disaster strikes....

Guido - this is extremely misleading. Kettering is...

2007-10-29T14:11:00.000Z

Guido - this is extremely misleading. Kettering is a "semi-rural constituency" and is "predominantly middle-class." Birmingham Hodge Hill "is one of the most deprived in the region and contains very few middle-class residents." (Wikipedia)

Low-income groups are more likely to have problems which require an MPs assistance (housing/immigration/benefits/etc). Hollobone can answer all of his constituent's enquiries himself BECAUSE HE GETS FAR LESS OF THEM.

I you want your immigration/asylum/csa/taxcredits ...

2007-10-29T12:24:00.000Z

I you want your immigration/asylum/csa/taxcredits casework done properly you need good staff in MPs offices, hence the expenses.

The average MP has 70,000 voters to deal with rega...

2007-10-29T11:45:00.000Z

The average MP has 70,000 voters to deal with regardless of the location of their constituency. Most of us right to our MP once every 10 years. It should really be a simple matter to handle the 20 odd letters a day that an MP receives, especially as they are likely to be along the lines of "I hate ID cards, what are you doing about it?"

Caseworkers just cut and paste government approved response into emails - what the hell use is that to anyone? It would at least be more honest to say "Sorry, I'm too busy to respond to this".

Hollobone is obviously a top bloke who believes being a representative for his community is an honour. He should be the poster child for "Caring Conservatives". I'm tired of socialist twats lining their pockets and then saying the Tories are evil and selfish. Can't say that about Hollobone, can they?

Realistically it is said,"most MPs and that includ...

2007-10-28T12:31:00.000Z

Realistically it is said,
"most MPs and that includes Conservative MPs have one caseworker just dealing with immigration cases."

Accordingly, wouldn't UK plc. be a much better place for immigrants and MP's if Rector Brown wrote another red-bulletin to guide all concerned in the most expedient and efficient means to hose the treasury....surely the wanker is eminently qualified for this?

Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a very high number...

2007-10-27T14:18:00.000+01:00

Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a very high number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2006, according to constituents.

That isn't actually the data being measured. It measures the number of constituents who feel their query has been dealt with satisfactorily. Inevitably, constituents with unrealistic expectations will say no irrespective of the time it took for them to receive a response.

And, having worked in an MPs office for a number of years, I can tell you that writetothem.com accounts for, at most, a 20th of incoming correspondence.

What a great MP. The thing with expenses is that y...

2007-10-27T12:41:00.000+01:00

What a great MP. The thing with expenses is that you can milk it. Some MP's clearly do, others dont.

Stanislav agree with nearly everything from Mr Atl...

2007-10-27T11:50:00.000+01:00

Stanislav agree with nearly everything from Mr Atlas Shrugged - Freemasons, common purpose, Illuminati, church, banks. All cunts; political party no difference makes.

Is just that live in Scotland too much and grow weary of racist, wife-beating, cross-dressers pretending to be martyrs, done down for centuries by the English working class, when truth is that Scotch are all fucked up arse by their own rulers. Is only one enemy innit?

Also, Scotch music is shit. Proclaimers is ginger Everly Brothers from Hell. In my country put in hospital for facial reconstruction and voice coaching. Don't know if Mr AS see transatalntic session on al Beeb but is gruesome gang of bearded nonces play same miserable fucking tune over and over for fucking hours, fucking fiddle sound like cat torture; smirking fucking McPonce nod grey head like is violin concerto of great Polish maestro, Beethoven.

Just go and watch this shit, Mr AS, and then come back and say love all Scotchmen. bet you fucking don't.

Sean Connery, he's another one, is better acting in children school nativity play. Silly old cunt live on bonny bonny bank of Lake Geneva and beat wife up like good Scotchman, fly in Scotland now and then with big magic sword, have tantrum say Scotland greatest place ever and fuck off back to Switzerland and live with the arms dealers and bankers. Cunt.

Hollobone doesn't really exist and Kettering is no...

2007-10-27T10:29:00.000+01:00

Hollobone doesn't really exist and Kettering is not a real constituency. This has all been got up by people who want a Hollobone figure to be real.

And it's a good job he is a figment of all you saintly do-gooders' imaginations. The last thing we want as an MP is some superannuated councillor getting on with tedious constituency jobs at a fraction of the cost. MPs are there to talk ad infinitum about national and international issues. They are there to entertain us by throwing abuse at each other and their expenses. They are there to make us feel just that little bit more superior.

If 'St. Philip' likes constituency work so much, he should become a social worker and stop grabbing national attention at Westminster.

Oh, and Simon Richards, "he's one of only a handful of MPs with the honesty and courage to say that Britain should leave the EU" is he? I must have misheard all those other fascist Tories say much the same thing over the years then!

Is Stanislav another name of the Hitch?

2007-10-27T02:55:00.000+01:00

Is Stanislav another name of the Hitch?

I used to work with Philip H when he was in the Ci...

2007-10-26T21:01:00.000+01:00

I used to work with Philip H when he was in the City. Nice bloke, but had the ability to clear the dining room whenever he came in - spectacularly boring, with no small talk whatsoever. But a thoroughly good chap, albeit a Tory. Quite a good Water Industry analyst as well.

Before Kettering, he was candidate in Lewisham in 1997, and recorded the greatest swing against a Tory in the country. Quite an achievement!

Stanislav the Polish plumberYou have given me an i...

2007-10-26T19:34:00.000+01:00

Stanislav the Polish plumber

You have given me an idea, on how to beat PC.

We must all learn to speak Polish English. Then we can hate anyone we wish and not even our mums will know what the bugger we are saying.

I am English and I LOVE SCOTTISH PEOPLE as I love all ordinary people until they rob or lie to me.

However I hate with differing degrees of intensity, ALL politicians, because their job IS robbing and lying.

I am therefore a 100% confirmed unrepentant, discriminatory, highly politically motivated, bullshitaphobic.

Making the best of it, before it becomes a thought crime punishable by 'radical re-education' and or death.

I've worked with Philip on a number of campaigns. ...

2007-10-26T18:27:00.000+01:00

I've worked with Philip on a number of campaigns. Despite having no secretarial support, he is unfailingly efficient, helpful and reliable. Far from boasting about his record, he is also exceptionally modest about it. On top of all that he's one of only a handful of MPs with the honesty and courage to say that Britain should leave the EU. I just wish we could clone him.

anon 1:30"Stationary" includes standing still and ...

2007-10-26T17:00:00.000+01:00

anon 1:30

"Stationary" includes standing still and not moving. So £49K is rather steep, although would have probably better in the long run if these numpties had just left well alone and done nothing at all for the last 10 years. **Such a declaration would at least have been honest for most.

What a goodie two shoes - and, as the photo shows,...

2007-10-26T15:28:00.000+01:00

What a goodie two shoes - and, as the photo shows, he can even clear the House when he gets up to speak; there is no end to his good works.

45govt has a picture of a big gun next to his name...

2007-10-26T13:48:00.000+01:00

45govt has a picture of a big gun next to his name, that makes him heterosexual.

What does "stationary" actually include? I'm guess...

2007-10-26T13:30:00.000+01:00

What does "stationary" actually include? I'm guessing you could buy alot for £49,107...

Could someone tell me what it actually includes?

Mr McGoo - a nation of "brave Sir Robins" - yep, t...

2007-10-26T13:24:00.000+01:00

Mr McGoo - a nation of "brave Sir Robins" - yep, thats us. At least we are self-funding. Hard to remember any of the other members of the Union that are so (post 1916 anyway)

Interns, and lots of 'em.

2007-10-26T13:23:00.000+01:00

Interns, and lots of 'em.

Scots "success" in politics is simply because they...

2007-10-26T13:21:00.000+01:00

Scots "success" in politics is simply because they lie, cheat and steal so much better than the English, and have the time to do it because in between vomiting on street corners and deep-frying mars bars, they are filling out benefit forms to get more English cash to enable themselves to have more free time to ensuring that the status quo goes on.... well you get the drift.

Not for much longer, now you have that genius kilt-lifter in charge. We can then privatise Scotland and give it to stanislav.

Fuck's sake, I've spent all week listening to Engl...

2007-10-26T13:12:00.000+01:00

Fuck's sake, I've spent all week listening to English twats dripping on about how they 'nearly' won the Rugby World Cup, they 'nearly' qualified for Euro 2008 and their driver 'nearly' won the Formula One championship.

Now I've got to read pages of tripe from English wasters with a chip on their shoulder because they 'nearly' hold power in their own country.

Face facts, you are a nation of losers, of nearly men, second-best whingers who cannot come to terms with the fact that the Jocks are simply better at politics than they are.

With success in politics, comes a deserved redistribution of your hard-earned money - to us. Tough shit.

Raise your game and do something about it - or alternatively you could just keep whining about it forevermore.

Sliante!

Bloody hell, an MP I really trust And he's hard wo...

2007-10-26T13:10:00.000+01:00

Bloody hell, an MP I really trust And he's hard working.

Hollobone for Prime Minister!

Auntie Flo'