Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

I watched it as well. I have eaten at a couple of the places in the series a few years ago, including where they go next week; San Fruttuoso.

39230

Totaly agree with Cynic on Maria Miller post 39230, this isnt a party political points scoring post, its about ALL MPs.

Miller should face a police enquiry.

The fact that she as been so arrogant over the affair pours more hot water on it.

Little wonder as Cynic says people arent turning up at the election booths anymore.

We havent heard the last of this, and that twit Hays can say what he wants, not that anyone takes any notice of what he posts these days.

Sorry forgot you Fred and yes you are right aswel post 39235.

What planet does Hays live on or does he do it to stir us all up.

steady on old boy ..... "Totally agree with Cynic" .... you'll soon be accused of taking brown envelopes or even cronyism if you don't watch out :-)

Fancy some cheese?

Is that Eric Pickles sister ?

Cameroon gas producer Victoria Oil & Gas , so that's who writes his speeches.

You can have that one on me Fred

GF,

Who is Cynic chap you keep on referring to?

8-)


Remind me to give him a tip, if I ever meet him.

Both have a good weekend.

Or should that be a stronger one!





(Don’t vote conservative.)

Will the Millerbint last the weekend?


http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/04/maria-miller-telegraph-releases-taped-call

When will you guys get it, the criminal offence of fraud is only committed by the ordinary person, it's not fraud if you are an MP, 'celebrity' or other such dignitary.
2517

Plenty of MPs have been before the courts for fraud regarding their expenses. None of it is that serious.,The root cause was the low salaries at the time and almost no scrutiny of expenses. There was a culture topping up their pay with expenses and it was deemed acceptable right across all the MPs. The expenses system is much more regulated now, but not fit for purpose. Accommodation when away from their home constituency is the main problem. This has still not been solved in a reasonable way. There is a need for some payment, but no clear system that gives anyone the surety that what they are doing is correct.

Saying all that, it is still no acceptable to fiddle the expenses and MPs of all parties should be brought to book. But at thend of the day the public don't really care. In the scheme of things, it is a drop in the ocean. If you want to see real fiddling then start scrutinising the EU MEP's expenses.

This Maria Miller business dates back to 2005, when prectices were very different. I think she should pay back more. The Commons enquiries cleared her of fraud, but she should probably resign.

H,''None of it is that serious'' so you think it's ok for MP's to defraud the people who pay for their expenses for a whole variety of lucrative items, which those paying can only dream of having. The public do care especially the honest, hard working low paid amongst us, I don't think those being hounded are too enamored with it either.
2517

We have one of the most honest bunch of MPs and Ministers in the world. It is is not to justify it, but look at Israel where ex Prime Minister's and others Minister have been convicted for frauds and bribes running into millions, Italy where corruption is normal, Spain, Portugal, Greece, France with 2 Prime Ministers (Juppe and Chirac) and 4 Ministers convicted of corruption. The list goes on. Our politicians are pretty straight and the sums involved are peanuts.

I know an Italian who went to prison for bribing a government minister to get a big contract. He got a fast track appeal after a week in jail and had the conviction quashed by bribing the appeal court judge. Our government and judiciary are saints in comparison to the rest of the world. Some people at not like there being rich people running the country, but it has the advantage that people of independent means are much less likely to be susceptible to corruption. It is one of the reasons, that most corruption at the local council level over the years has involved Labour councils,

Breaking news

Chinese patrol ship has found pulse in the plane search area of 37.5Khz, which is the right frequency for the black box.

Just taken quick look at Hays posts and totaly turned off.

Cynic/manuel trying to post you that note.

National Front leader Marine Le Pen has said her party will not pander to Jewish and Muslim children by offering non-Pork alternatives for lunch.

School canteens will no longer offer non-pork meal options in the 11 towns the far-right party won in local elections, because such arrangements are contrary to France's secular values, she said.

I think most country's provide option's, arab airlines have Vegan, vegetarian plus about 15 others in the case of Emirates also wine , beer's. most schools have options.

This is pandering to racist . ........ Fred will not set foot in France again if they go ahead with this. On the other hand he did have his nose in the Royal mail trough

Hays

Nothing about it on the bbc website

Corruption is endemic in government across the world. It is just a fact of life. We are lucky that we have more checks and balances that any other government. Our system of oversight via select committees, parliament itself and the judiciary is quite unusual in the world. We manage to process and pass legislation at a better rate than most other governments. The US system does have good aspects, but passing legislation is not one of them. It is an argument for not having an elected second chamber. If we had an elected House of Lords then we could not guarantee to pass laws when needed.