To Archive List PageKenneth Clarke, the man who fixed the economy only to see it broken by Gordon Brown, reckons that two-thirds of MPs are honest. Which still leaves 216 thieving crooks in the House of Commons.

Some Facts to bear in mind relevant to expenses claims:

The Fraud Act (2006)
Section 2. Fraud by false representation
   (1) A person is in breach of this section if he - (a) dishonestly makes a false representation, and (b) intends, by making the representation, to make a gain for himself or another.
   (2) A representation is false if - (a) it is untrue or misleading, and (b) the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading.

The Fraud Act (2006)
Section 1(3).
   A person who is guilty of fraud is liable - (a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory minimum (or both); (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to a fine (or both).


Where The Money Should Be Going But Isn't:

Internships, a plan for major companies to train jobless graduates, was announced in January 2009.
STATUS : Not Yet In Operation

Recruitment Subsidies were announced in January 2009. They are payments of up to £1,500, which will be made to firms to help them train recruits.
STATUS : Not Yet In Operation

The Guarantee Scheme for Asset-Backed Securities is a government for banks holding corporate debt, etc. It was announced in January 2009
STATUS : Not Yet In Operation

The Asset Protection Scheme was announced in January 2009. It is a Treasury scheme to insure part-nationalized banks against 'toxic debt'.
STATUS : Not Yet In Operation

The £20 billion Working Capital Scheme was heralded by Lord Mandelson of Green Custard as the saviour of the universe in January 2009.
STATUS : Nothing much happening because 95% of the cash promised by the government hasn't been forthcoming


What The Money's Going On:

 • MPs' salaries - up 9%
 • MPs' expenses - up 8%
 • The 2012 Olympics
 • More non-jobs in central & local government
 • Foreign aid to India, China (!!!) and every other country with
    a space programme to buy friends for Gordon Brown
 • Consultants – the Brown regime hands out £7 BILLION of
    taxpayers' money per year (the equivalent of 3p on the basic rate of income tax),
    especially to the consultants who deliver failed IT projects, like the NHS
    megacomputer


Where the money's coming from (2009/04/01 onward)

 • Petrol tax up 2p/litre
 • Water bills up 4.1%
 • BT line rental up 8.7%
 • BT daytime call charge up 15%
 • BT connection charge for calls up 16.8%
 • BT discounts abolished
 • 1st class post up 8.3% to 39p
 • 2nd class post up 20% to 30p
 • Prescriptions in England up 10p to £7.20
 • NHS dentistry charges up 30p to £16.50 for a checkup, up £1 to £45.60 for a filling
 • Colour TV licence fee up 2.1%


When this government produces statistics to 'prove' that it's making a difference, prices are going down and everything in the garden is rosy again, it's all just spin and lies.

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