Brown's spend, spend, spend during his Chancellor's days has brought us into the current economy we are facing today. His appeal at a Downing Street meeting for the lenders to pass on cuts appeared to fall on deaf ears with HBOS, which owns the Halifax, increasing its rate on some mortgages from 6.09 to 6.59 per cent. Borrowers taking out this type of deal will now pay 46 more a month. On a two-year tracker, the rate will increase from 1.49 points above base rate to 1.99 points, giving a current rate of 6.99 per cent.

Other lenders are expected to follow Halifaxs lead.

If the Government wants the banks to lower mortgage rates to home owners - why not just offer them through Northern Rock? Everyone would rush to the Rock to get the loans forcing banks to match the rates or lose the business? Or maybe the government would then run into bigger credit crunch?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/911-DVD-FINDING-THE-TRUTH-BY-ANDREW-JOHNSON-MUST-SEE_W0QQitemZ230319976434QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CDsDVDs_DVDs_DVDs_GL?hash=item230319976434&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Maybe there are similar problems.

I prefer to have an open book on all Income, expenses and payments, which are made to, or by those paid by the state.

Not only the State's payment, but also payments or earnings, from other bodies or individuals, to those in the State's employment.

However, I do wonder if the peripheral costs make the ideal situation cost beneficial, but it may reduce abuses and future corruption.

It might help with the unemployment figures!

Ah Fred - it isn't a problem, but your post 427 (as indeed many others) doesn't make any more sense after three glasses than it did after one.

And now I've run out of glasses :)

I'm nor surprised more people are leaving the UK I myself think Poland would be a good choice.

Choc, Try getting somebody to help you read it and then explain it to you. The words aren't to long. Even for you!

'And now I've run out of glasses'

excellent!

FSA head: Gordon Brown helped fuel banking crisis


Gordon Brown helped fuel Britains banking crisis by pressuring the City regulator not to intervene and stop reckless lending, Lord Turner, the head of the Financial Services Authority, said.

The authoritys chairman claimed the regulator was under political pressure not to be heavy and intrusive with banks such as HBOS and Northern Rock.

Instead, it was told to operate a light touch approach, which had now been proved to be mistaken, he told a Commons committee.

The failure of the regulator to intervene earlier has been blamed for the banking crisis, which has led to the near-collapse of several of the countrys biggest banks.

Last night, it emerged that RBSs former chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin picked up an 8m pension top-up after being sacked by the lender for leading it to a 28bn loss, the largest in UK corporate history, and a taxpayer rescue last year.

The payment was made despite the bank and Sir Freds insistence that he received no compensation for loss of office. It means he is already drawing a pension of 650,000 a year at the age of 50.

Lord Turners remarks, made to MPs, are deeply embarrassing for the Prime Minister, who oversaw the FSA while he was Chancellor.

Mr Brown has repeatedly been accused by political opponents of failing to take responsibility for his role in the banking scandal. The latest allegations came as the Treasury prepared to unveil details of another bail-out package to rescue ailing banks.

However, it is to insure up to 600 billion of toxic assets held by two of Britains biggest banks.

The first stage, to be announced today, will be a deal to help the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

It will see taxpayers underwriting more than 250billion worth of the banks debts for up to a decade, just as it announces the biggest corporate loss in British history of up to 28billion.

Appearing before the Treasury select committee yesterday, Lord Turner told MPs: All the pressure on the FSA was not to say why arent you looking at these business models, but why are you being so heavy and intrusive, cant you make your regulation a bit more light touch?

We were supervising people like HBOS within a particular philosophy of the way you do regulation, which I think in retrospect was wrong.

It was not the function of the regulator to cast questions over overall business strategy of the institutions - you may find that surprising.

He added: I think (the FSAs actions were) a competent execution of a style of regulation and a philosophy in regulation which was, in retrospect, mistaken.

John McFall, the chairman of the committee, said the remarks had raised serious questions about the FSAs independence.

Mr Brown and Ed Balls, previously his key adviser, had regularly boasted of the benefits of so-called light touch regulation.

The Prime Minister has also faced accusations that he became too close to senior bankers such as Sir Fred.

It's the end for Gordon and his cronies...


Gordon Brown's house swap let the PM claim thousands. He used his Parliamentary allowances to boost his expenses claims by switching his designated second home shortly before he moved into Downing Street upon becoming Prime Minister. He also paid his brother, Andrew, a high-flying executive, 241.30 a month for cleaning services. The payments later increased to 262. Among the items he was reimbursed for were lightbulbs worth 15 and a 265 John Lewis vacuum cleaner.

Hazel Blears did not pay capital gains tax on a property she sold despite having told the Commons authorities it was her second home. She has since agreed to paid the tax but denied any wrongdoing. Miss Blears sold the property in Kennington, south London, in August 2004 for 200,000, making a profit of 45,000. She admitted last night that she did not pay capital gains tax (CGT) on the profit from the sale because "no liability" had arisen.

Margaret Beckett made a 600 claim for hanging baskets and pot plants. The housing and planning minister found herself in trouble with the fees office when she submitted the claim in 2006, which covered the supply of plants for hanging baskets, tubs, pots, planters, pouches and garden, and another 711 for labour and materials for painting of summer house, shed and pergola. Mrs Beckett, 66, claimed second home allowances of 72,537 for her constituency home in Derby in the four years between 2004 and 2008, despite having no mortgage or rent to pay on the property.

Douglas Alexander spent more than 30,000 doing up his constituency home which then suffered damage in a house fire.

Michael Ancram put the cost of having his swimming pool boiler serviced on his parliamentary allowances. He has agreed to repay the money

James Arbuthnot claimed from the public finances for cleaning his swimming pool at a country residence. He has agreed to repay the money

Hilary Armstrong was told that allowing the Labour Party to pay for and run a computer at her taxpayer-funded home could make her politically vulnerable

Vera Baird claimed the cost of Christmas tree decorations

Ed Balls and wife Yvette Cooper flipped the designation of their second home to three different properties within two years

Norman Baker asked if he could claim for a bicycle and a computer so he could listen to music and email family and friends

Greg Barker made a 320,000 profit selling a flat the taxpayer had helped pay for. He has agreed to repay 10,000.

Tony Blair re-mortgaged his constituency home and claimed almost a third of the interest around the time he was buying another property in London

Crispin Blunt told to stop claiming Commons allowance on his home because his children live there

Ben Bradshaw used his allowance to pay the mortgage interest on a flat he owned jointly with his boyfriend

Kevin Brennan had a 450 television delivered to his family home in Cardiff even though he reclaimed the money back on his London second home allowance

Chris Bryant changed second home twice in two years to claim 20,000

Andy Burnham had an eight-month battle with the fees office after making a single expenses claim for more than 16,500

Stephen Byers claimed more than 125,000 for repairs and maintenance at a London flat owned outright by his partner, where he lives rent-free

Vince Cable forgoes the second home allowance, but asked whether he could claim backdated payments of the London supplement instead

David Cameron limited his claims to mortgage interest payments and utility bills. He will repay the only maintenance bill he claimed - 600 for the removal of wisteria

Menzies Campbell hired a top interior designer to refurbish his small flat in central London at taxpayers expense. He will repay the 1,490.66 cost of an interior designer

Ronnie Campbell claimed a total of 87,729 for furniture for his London flat

David Chaytor admits claiming almost 13,000 in interest payments for a mortgage that he had already repaid

James Clappison owns 24 houses but billed more than 100,000, including thousands for gardening and redecoration

Kenneth Clarke managed to avoid paying the full rate of council tax on either of his two homes by effectively claiming that neither is his main residence. He has agreed to pay the full rate in future but defended his past behaviour.

Nick Clegg claimed the maximum allowed under his parliamentary second home allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown flipped his second home designation from London to his Gloucestershire home, before buying a 2,750,000 house.

Harry Cohen claimed thousands of pounds for redecorating his second home before selling it and charging taxpayers 12,000 in stamp duty and fees on a new property

Yvette Cooper and husband Ed Balls flipped the designation of their second home to three different properties within two years

Stephen Crabb claimed his main home was a room in another MPs flat, after buying a new house for his family at taxpayers expense

Tam Dalyell attempted to claim 18,000 for bookcases two months before he retired as an MP

Alistair Darling's stamp duty was paid by the public

David Davis spent more than 10,000 of taxpayers money on home improvements in four years, including a new 5,700 portico at his home in Yorkshire.

Pat Doherty and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than 500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament

Alan Duncan spent thousands from his allowance on gardening, including repairs to his lawnmower. He has agreed to repay 5,000

Caroline Flint claimed 14,000 for fees for new flat

Barbara Follett used 25,000 of taxpayers' money to pay for private security patrols at her home

Andrew George used parliamentary expenses for a London flat used by his student daughter. He also claimed hundreds of pounds for hotel stays with his wife. He has said he will repay 20 for a hotel breakfast

Michelle Gildernew and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than 500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament

Cheryl Gillan bought dog food using her allowance but agreed to pay it back after being contacted by the Telegraph

Julia Goldsworthy spent thousands of pounds on expensive furniture just days before the deadline for using up parliamentary allowances. She has promised to pay back 1,005 for a leather rocking chair

Michael Gove spent thousands on his London home before "flipping" his Commons allowance to another address. He has agreed to repay 7,000

Chris Grayling claimed for a London flat even though his constituency home is only 17 miles from the House of Commons. He has agreed to stop doing so

John Gummer's gardening, including the removal of moles from his lawn, cost the taxpayer 9,000

Fabian Hamilton declared his mothers London house as his main residence while over-charging the taxpayer by thousands of pounds for a mortgage on his family home in Leeds

Nick Harvey had to be reminded twice by parliamentary officials to submit receipts with his expenses claims

Alan Haselhurst charged the taxpayer almost 12,000 for gardening bills at his farmhouse in Essex, his expenses claims show.

David Heathcoat-Amorys gardener used hundreds of sacks of horse manure and the MP submitted the receipts to Parliament

Nick Herbert charged taxpayers more than 10,000 for stamp duty and fees when he and his partner bought a home together in his constituency

Douglas Hogg included with his expenses claims the cost of having the moat cleared, piano tuned and stable lights fixed at his country manor house. He has agreed to repay 2,200 for the moat clearing

Geoff Hoon established a property empire worth 1.7 million after claiming taxpayer-funded expenses for at least two properties

Phil Hope spent more than 10,000 in one year refurbishing a small London flat. He has promised to pay back 41,000 to the taxpayer

Kelvin Hopkins claims just a fraction of the available second-home allowance by taking the train to Westminster from his home town

Chris Huhne regularly submits receipts for bus tickets and groceries including pints of milk, fluffy dusters, lavatory rolls and chocolate HobNobs. He has promised to pay back 119 for a trouser press

Stewart Jackson claimed more than 66,000 for his family home, including hundreds of pounds on refurbishing his swimming pool. He has agreed to repay the costs associated with his pool

Sir Gerald Kaufman charged the taxpayer 1,851 for a rug he imported from a New York antiques centre and tried to claim 8,865 for a television

Alan and Ann Keen claimed almost 40,000 a year on a central London flat although their family home was less than 10 miles away

Julie Kirkbride's husband Andrew Mackay resigned as David Cameron's aide after it emerged that the two MPs were making claims that meant they effectively had no main home but two second homes, both funded with public money.

Andrew Lansley spent more than 4,000 of taxpayers money renovating his country home months before he sold it. He will repay 2,600 of decorating fees

Oliver Letwin repaired a pipe beneath his tennis court using taxpayers' money. He has agreed to repay the money

Lord Mandelson faces questions over the timing of his house claim which came after he had announced he would step down

Andrew Mackay resigned as David Cameron's aide after it emerged that he and his wife Julie Kirkbride were making claims that meant they effectively had no main home but two second homes, both funded with public money.

Shahid Malik claimed 66,000 on his second property while paying less than 100 a week for his main house

Bob Marshall-Andrews claimed 118,000 for expenses at his second home, including stereo equipment, extensive redecoration and a pair of Kenyan carpets.

John Maples declared a private members club as his main home to the parliamentary authorities. He claimed the maximum second home allowance on his family house while apparently not having a main property to maintain.

Michael Martin used taxpayers' money to pay for chauffeur-driven cars to his local job centre and Celtic's football ground

Francis Maude claimed almost 35,000 in two years for mortgage interest payments on a London flat when he owned a house just a few hundred yards away. He has agreed to stop claiming for a second home

Martin McGuinness and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than 500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament

David Miliband's spending was queried by his gardener

Austin Mitchell claimed for security shutters, ginger crinkle biscuits and the cost of reupholstering his sofa. He has offered to donate his old sofa coverings to make amends

Margaret Moran switched the address of her second home, allowing her to claim 22,500 to fix a dry rot problem. She has agreed to repay the money while insisting she acted within the rules. She could face an investigation for allegedly using Commons stationery to keep neighbours away from her fourth property in Spain. She also billed the taxpayer for nearly 4,000 in legal fees in settling a dispute with one of her staff

Elliot Morley claimed parliamentary expenses of more than 16,000 for a mortgage which had already been paid off

Conor Murphy and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than 500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament

Paul Murphy had a new plumbing system installed at taxpayers expense because the water in the old one was too hot

Lembit Opik had to pay 2,499 for a 42-inch plasma television after purchasing it while Parliament was dissolved

George Osborne was rebuked by the Commons authorities for using public money to fund his "political" website. He also claimed money for a chauffeur-driven car which he has agreed to repay

John Prescott claimed for two lavatory seats in two years

Alan Reid claimed more than 1,500 on his parliamentary expenses for staying in hotels and bed-and-breakfasts near his home

John Reid used his allowance to pay for slotted spoons, an ironing board and a glittery loo seat

Angus Robertson successfully appealed to the fees office when they turned down his claim for a 400 home cinema system

Peter and Iris Robinson both claimed expenses based on the same 1,223 bill when they submitted their parliamentary claims in 2007

Richard Younger-Ross spent 1,235 on four mirrors and bought 'Don Juan bookcase

Alex Salmond claimed 400 per month for food when the Commons was not even sitting

Clare Short claimed thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money to which she was not entitled within months of standing down as a Cabinet minister

Michael Spicer claimed for work on his helipad and received thousands of pounds for gardening bills.

Anthony Steen claimed 87,000 on country mansion with 500 trees

Jack Straw only paid half the amount of council tax that he claimed on his parliamentary allowances over four years but later rectified the over-claim

Don Touhig spent thousands of pounds redecorating his constituency home before flipping his allowance to a flat in London

Kitty Ussher asked the Commons authorities to fund extensive refurbishment of her Victorian family home

Keith Vaz claimed 75,500 for a second flat near Parliament even though he already lived just 12 miles from Westminster

Theresa Villiers claimed almost 16,000 in stamp duty and professional fees on expenses when she bought a London flat, even though she already had a house in the capital. She has agreed to stop claiming the second home allowance

Tom Watson and Iain Wright spent 100,000 of taxpayers' money on the London flat they once shared

Steve Webb sold his London flat and bought another nearby, while the taxpayer picked up an 8,400 bill for stamp duty

Shaun Woodward received 100,000 to help pay mortgage

David Willetts, the Conservatives' choice for skills minister, needed help changing light bulbs. He has agreed to repay the bill

Sir Nicholas Winterton and his wife Ann claimed more than 80,000 for a London flat owned by a trust controlled by their children

Phil Woolas submitted receipts including comics, nappies and women's clothing as part of his claims for food

Iain Wright and Tom Watson spent 100,000 of taxpayers' money on the London flat they once shared

Derek Wyatt billed 75p for scotch eggs

Is that all. A mere bagatelle my dear chap(ess?). No problem, give them more I say. Then they might with luck all drown, choke or suffocate in their criminal excess.

Can you claim expenses for the use of prostitutes,..?

It's the end for Gordon and his cronies...


Gordon Brown's house swap let the PM claim thousands. He used his Parliamentary allowances to boost his expenses claims by switching his designated second home shortly before he moved into Downing Street upon becoming Prime Minister. He also paid his brother, Andrew, a high-flying executive, 241.30 a month for cleaning services. The payments later increased to 262. Among the items he was reimbursed for were lightbulbs worth 15 and a 265 John Lewis vacuum cleaner.

Hazel Blears did not pay capital gains tax on a property she sold despite having told the Commons authorities it was her second home. She has since agreed to paid the tax but denied any wrongdoing. Miss Blears sold the property in Kennington, south London, in August 2004 for 200,000, making a profit of 45,000. She admitted last night that she did not pay capital gains tax (CGT) on the profit from the sale because "no liability" had arisen.

Margaret Beckett made a 600 claim for hanging baskets and pot plants. The housing and planning minister found herself in trouble with the fees office when she submitted the claim in 2006, which covered the supply of plants for hanging baskets, tubs, pots, planters, pouches and garden, and another 711 for labour and materials for painting of summer house, shed and pergola. Mrs Beckett, 66, claimed second home allowances of 72,537 for her constituency home in Derby in the four years between 2004 and 2008, despite having no mortgage or rent to pay on the property.

Douglas Alexander spent more than 30,000 doing up his constituency home which then suffered damage in a house fire.

Michael Ancram put the cost of having his swimming pool boiler serviced on his parliamentary allowances. He has agreed to repay the money

James Arbuthnot claimed from the public finances for cleaning his swimming pool at a country residence. He has agreed to repay the money

Hilary Armstrong was told that allowing the Labour Party to pay for and run a computer at her taxpayer-funded home could make her politically vulnerable

Vera Baird claimed the cost of Christmas tree decorations

Ed Balls and wife Yvette Cooper flipped the designation of their second home to three different properties within two years

Norman Baker asked if he could claim for a bicycle and a computer so he could listen to music and email family and friends

Greg Barker made a 320,000 profit selling a flat the taxpayer had helped pay for. He has agreed to repay 10,000.

Tony Blair re-mortgaged his constituency home and claimed almost a third of the interest around the time he was buying another property in London

Crispin Blunt told to stop claiming Commons allowance on his home because his children live there

Ben Bradshaw used his allowance to pay the mortgage interest on a flat he owned jointly with his boyfriend

Kevin Brennan had a 450 television delivered to his family home in Cardiff even though he reclaimed the money back on his London second home allowance

Chris Bryant changed second home twice in two years to claim 20,000

Andy Burnham had an eight-month battle with the fees office after making a single expenses claim for more than 16,500

Stephen Byers claimed more than 125,000 for repairs and maintenance at a London flat owned outright by his partner, where he lives rent-free

Vince Cable forgoes the second home allowance, but asked whether he could claim backdated payments of the London supplement instead

David Cameron limited his claims to mortgage interest payments and utility bills. He will repay the only maintenance bill he claimed - 600 for the removal of wisteria

Menzies Campbell hired a top interior designer to refurbish his small flat in central London at taxpayers expense. He will repay the 1,490.66 cost of an interior designer

Ronnie Campbell claimed a total of 87,729 for furniture for his London flat

David Chaytor admits claiming almost 13,000 in interest payments for a mortgage that he had already repaid

James Clappison owns 24 houses but billed more than 100,000, including thousands for gardening and redecoration

Kenneth Clarke managed to avoid paying the full rate of council tax on either of his two homes by effectively claiming that neither is his main residence. He has agreed to pay the full rate in future but defended his past behaviour.

Nick Clegg claimed the maximum allowed under his parliamentary second home allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown flipped his second home designation from London to his Gloucestershire home, before buying a 2,750,000 house.

Harry Cohen claimed thousands of pounds for redecorating his second home before selling it and charging taxpayers 12,000 in stamp duty and fees on a new property

Yvette Cooper and husband Ed Balls flipped the designation of their second home to three different properties within two years

Stephen Crabb claimed his main home was a room in another MPs flat, after buying a new house for his family at taxpayers expense

Tam Dalyell attempted to claim 18,000 for bookcases two months before he retired as an MP

Alistair Darling's stamp duty was paid by the public

David Davis spent more than 10,000 of taxpayers money on home improvements in four years, including a new 5,700 portico at his home in Yorkshire.

Pat Doherty and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than 500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament

Alan Duncan spent thousands from his allowance on gardening, including repairs to his lawnmower. He has agreed to repay 5,000

Caroline Flint claimed 14,000 for fees for new flat

Barbara Follett used 25,000 of taxpayers' money to pay for private security patrols at her home

Andrew George used parliamentary expenses for a London flat used by his student daughter. He also claimed hundreds of pounds for hotel stays with his wife. He has said he will repay 20 for a hotel breakfast

Michelle Gildernew and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than 500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament

Cheryl Gillan bought dog food using her allowance but agreed to pay it back after being contacted by the Telegraph

Julia Goldsworthy spent thousands of pounds on expensive furniture just days before the deadline for using up parliamentary allowances. She has promised to pay back 1,005 for a leather rocking chair

Michael Gove spent thousands on his London home before "flipping" his Commons allowance to another address. He has agreed to repay 7,000

Chris Grayling claimed for a London flat even though his constituency home is only 17 miles from the House of Commons. He has agreed to stop doing so

John Gummer's gardening, including the removal of moles from his lawn, cost the taxpayer 9,000

Fabian Hamilton declared his mothers London house as his main residence while over-charging the taxpayer by thousands of pounds for a mortgage on his family home in Leeds

Nick Harvey had to be reminded twice by parliamentary officials to submit receipts with his expenses claims

Alan Haselhurst charged the taxpayer almost 12,000 for gardening bills at his farmhouse in Essex, his expenses claims show.

David Heathcoat-Amorys gardener used hundreds of sacks of horse manure and the MP submitted the receipts to Parliament

Nick Herbert charged taxpayers more than 10,000 for stamp duty and fees when he and his partner bought a home together in his constituency

Douglas Hogg included with his expenses claims the cost of having the moat cleared, piano tuned and stable lights fixed at his country manor house. He has agreed to repay 2,200 for the moat clearing

Geoff Hoon established a property empire worth 1.7 million after claiming taxpayer-funded expenses for at least two properties

Phil Hope spent more than 10,000 in one year refurbishing a small London flat. He has promised to pay back 41,000 to the taxpayer

Kelvin Hopkins claims just a fraction of the available second-home allowance by taking the train to Westminster from his home town

Chris Huhne regularly submits receipts for bus tickets and groceries including pints of milk, fluffy dusters, lavatory rolls and chocolate HobNobs. He has promised to pay back 119 for a trouser press

Stewart Jackson claimed more than 66,000 for his family home, including hundreds of pounds on refurbishing his swimming pool. He has agreed to repay the costs associated with his pool

Sir Gerald Kaufman charged the taxpayer 1,851 for a rug he imported from a New York antiques centre and tried to claim 8,865 for a television

Alan and Ann Keen claimed almost 40,000 a year on a central London flat although their family home was less than 10 miles away

Julie Kirkbride's husband Andrew Mackay resigned as David Cameron's aide after it emerged that the two MPs were making claims that meant they effectively had no main home but two second homes, both funded with public money.

Andrew Lansley spent more than 4,000 of taxpayers money renovating his country home months before he sold it. He will repay 2,600 of decorating fees

Oliver Letwin repaired a pipe beneath his tennis court using taxpayers' money. He has agreed to repay the money

Lord Mandelson faces questions over the timing of his house claim which came after he had announced he would step down

Andrew Mackay resigned as David Cameron's aide after it emerged that he and his wife Julie Kirkbride were making claims that meant they effectively had no main home but two second homes, both funded with public money.

Shahid Malik claimed 66,000 on his second property while paying less than 100 a week for his main house

Bob Marshall-Andrews claimed 118,000 for expenses at his second home, including stereo equipment, extensive redecoration and a pair of Kenyan carpets.

John Maples declared a private members club as his main home to the parliamentary authorities. He claimed the maximum second home allowance on his family house while apparently not having a main property to maintain.

Michael Martin used taxpayers' money to pay for chauffeur-driven cars to his local job centre and Celtic's football ground

Francis Maude claimed almost 35,000 in two years for mortgage interest payments on a London flat when he owned a house just a few hundred yards away. He has agreed to stop claiming for a second home

Martin McGuinness and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than 500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament

David Miliband's spending was queried by his gardener

Austin Mitchell claimed for security shutters, ginger crinkle biscuits and the cost of reupholstering his sofa. He has offered to donate his old sofa coverings to make amends

Margaret Moran switched the address of her second home, allowing her to claim 22,500 to fix a dry rot problem. She has agreed to repay the money while insisting she acted within the rules. She could face an investigation for allegedly using Commons stationery to keep neighbours away from her fourth property in Spain. She also billed the taxpayer for nearly 4,000 in legal fees in settling a dispute with one of her staff

Elliot Morley claimed parliamentary expenses of more than 16,000 for a mortgage which had already been paid off

Conor Murphy and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than 500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament

Paul Murphy had a new plumbing system installed at taxpayers expense because the water in the old one was too hot

Lembit Opik had to pay 2,499 for a 42-inch plasma television after purchasing it while Parliament was dissolved

George Osborne was rebuked by the Commons authorities for using public money to fund his "political" website. He also claimed money for a chauffeur-driven car which he has agreed to repay

John Prescott claimed for two lavatory seats in two years

Alan Reid claimed more than 1,500 on his parliamentary expenses for staying in hotels and bed-and-breakfasts near his home

John Reid used his allowance to pay for slotted spoons, an ironing board and a glittery loo seat

Angus Robertson successfully appealed to the fees office when they turned down his claim for a 400 home cinema system

Peter and Iris Robinson both claimed expenses based on the same 1,223 bill when they submitted their parliamentary claims in 2007

Richard Younger-Ross spent 1,235 on four mirrors and bought 'Don Juan bookcase

Alex Salmond claimed 400 per month for food when the Commons was not even sitting

Clare Short claimed thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money to which she was not entitled within months of standing down as a Cabinet minister

Michael Spicer claimed for work on his helipad and received thousands of pounds for gardening bills.

Anthony Steen claimed 87,000 on country mansion with 500 trees

Jack Straw only paid half the amount of council tax that he claimed on his parliamentary allowances over four years but later rectified the over-claim

Don Touhig spent thousands of pounds redecorating his constituency home before flipping his allowance to a flat in London

Kitty Ussher asked the Commons authorities to fund extensive refurbishment of her Victorian family home

Keith Vaz claimed 75,500 for a second flat near Parliament even though he already lived just 12 miles from Westminster

Theresa Villiers claimed almost 16,000 in stamp duty and professional fees on expenses when she bought a London flat, even though she already had a house in the capital. She has agreed to stop claiming the second home allowance

Tom Watson and Iain Wright spent 100,000 of taxpayers' money on the London flat they once shared

Steve Webb sold his London flat and bought another nearby, while the taxpayer picked up an 8,400 bill for stamp duty

Shaun Woodward received 100,000 to help pay mortgage

David Willetts, the Conservatives' choice for skills minister, needed help changing light bulbs. He has agreed to repay the bill

Sir Nicholas Winterton and his wife Ann claimed more than 80,000 for a London flat owned by a trust controlled by their children

Phil Woolas submitted receipts including comics, nappies and women's clothing as part of his claims for food

Iain Wright and Tom Watson spent 100,000 of taxpayers' money on the London flat they once shared

Derek Wyatt billed 75p for scotch eggs

What is the Tory/Labour/Liberal tally at the moment for fraudulent claims. Total in cash value?

Mitzy, it depends on how you prostitute oneself.

I was thinking of Jeffrey Archer but is a Lord now.

Hallelujah!
Gordon's days are numbered now... step down before you get humiliated any further... let Cameron be KING!



Local elections: Labour suffers humiliating defeat

Labour has suffered a humiliating local election wipeout after losing control of its last county councils and heading for third place behind the Liberal Democrats.

The results of the elections dealt another huge blow to Gordon Brown as he struggles to survive as Prime Minister. Speaking in Downing Street, he called the results a "painful defeat" and said: "I accept my responsibility."

The dismal election results last night triggered public infighting in the Labour ranks, with senior party figures including John Prescott blaming ministers including Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, for the defeats.

Labour went into the local elections in control of Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

All four were lost yesterday, wiping Labour off the electoral map in the areas being fought, in an unprecedented rout.

Lancashire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire were taken by the Conservatives, hugely symbolic advances for David Cameron's party.

Nottinghamshire is now under no overall control.

The last time Labour lost Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire was 1977, two years before Jim Callaghan lost power to Margaret Thatcher's Tories.

Overall, Labour lost 250 of the 445 council seats it was defending. The Tories gained 217.

As well as losing those councils in its traditional northern strongholds, Labour was on course for a humiliating third place overall.

The last time these seats were contested, in 2005, the Tories got 40 per cent of the vote. Labour got 27.6 per cent and the Lib Dems got 25 per cent.

With 22 of 34 council results declared yesterday, a projection compiled by the BBC put the Tories on course for 38 per cent, the Lib Dems on 28 per cent and Labour on 23 per cent.

The Tories were also celebrating taking Devon and Somerset from the Liberal Democrats, two more key Tory targets. The Conservatives also took Warwickshire, previously under no overall control, but missed out on Cumbria, another target.

Despite their losses in the south west, the Lib Dems insisted they were pleased with their overall share of the vote and the fact that they kept the number of seats they lost down to only eight.

Mr Cameron hailed the results as proof his party is on course for a general election victory. He said: "What's remarkable about these figures and what shines out is it's the Conservative Party winning in every part of the country."

But the fall in his party's share of the vote, and the failure to take control of Nottinghamshire and Cumbria, soured the Tory celebrations.

Party insiders said it was a sign that public anger against politicians over MPs' expenses is hurting the Tories as well as Labour.

In a sign of public anger at the mainstream parties, marginal groups including the British National Party and the English Democrats made gains.

Mr Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, said that serving ministers like Miss Harman and Douglas Alexander, Labour's election chief, were to blame. He said: "It seems the people responsible for our campaign were resigned to defeat and were prepared to use the excuse that we had no money."

Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair's former communications chief, also criticised the Labour campaign. He said: "The lack of a clear and strong campaign based on defending the record attacking our opponents and consistently setting out an agenda for the future has been evident for some time too."

Miss Harman blamed the expenses scandal for the outcome. "I think that we're all facing disappointment in these results in the Labour Party," she said.

A year is a long time in politics.

I can remember a rugby game at "Twickers" a few years ago, when at half time Emgland were jubilant and the champagne flowed, only to find at the end of the match they had been "well and truly whipped"!

Can remember the team which did it, think they were a club side wearing red jerseys.

Perhaps the dressing room talk to the Labour Party may be on similar lines.

I wait and will see. i hope it won't be too painful to watch.

PS. Cameron reminds me more of Canute than a king.

Didn't he lose all the crown jewels and then rob the people in order to replace them!

Don't think so - surely it was King John. Canute tried to hold back the sea, in much the same way as Brown is trying to hold back the the anger, hatred, contempt and ridicule of the electorate that he has ridden rough-shod over for far too long.

In the words of the Moody Blues song, "If you gotta go, Go NOW"!

brown claiming for 2 houses..........darling similar and flipped house 4 times in 4 years.

brown promised sackings for abuse of rules......well he and cabinet should all be in jail......all used accountants.......esp darling and that means WE pay his VAT AS WELL!! UNBELIEVABLE

These are marxist and stalinist! what a joke

stalin was voted in 1st of all and he died with only 3 suits. brown has amassed millions in his pension.

stalin would have got him shot in a trench for that. and stalin got things done even if consequences were done........and russia is for russians, pure and simple unlike browns british jobs for british people nonense.

everyone knows the brits are leaving in their droves to other countries

also no-one respects britain anymore.......its just a tin pot country like other pathetic euro nations like italy