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.

Greekyou guessed wrongFred is talking about the pack that I call the Groovy Gang professionally paid to slag a stock and drive down the priceI very rarely use their BB nameas I believe the bashers are paid every time its mentioned then no wonder they get frustrated with mehopefully they are not getting paid a pennybut it is amusing to see the concern they show for us investorssome sit eight hours on a keyboard talking about a stock they dont even ownjust to convince othersit is best to sell.I think Fred has a good written piece about themI also havebut probably filed it under duck lamb boeufsorry I meant Beauf!!!!

Tabasco,

Like you I believe that there are share rampers/de-rampers out there. You often see the same names on double figure threads ramping/de-ramping every share they can.
I don't think they are paid, although there has been the odd hint some are, I feel they just want to talk the sp up/down for their own ends.
There is one on MoneyAm (no names, no pack drill, but we all know these posters) who on my last count about a year ago was posting on at least 15 threads, always bashing the sp, usually without much in the way of back-up augment, views, opinions. He still posts but he has been on my squelch list for a couple of years, so I never see the drivel he writes.

I have little problem with these posters as they are so obvious.

I would sooner read a view well argued that does not agree with mine, than an agreeing view with comments such as, Buy/Sell now, this will Zoom/Bomb and the like.

Hasn't it gone quiet?

Tabby frightened them all off.

A bit like the H.of P.

I find it strange how the Inland Revenue are prepared to investigate false declaration of Cash payments for small business, solicitors, Barristers medics etc. for up to 18years and yet they seem loathed to show interest in MP's expense / income claims.

Sometimes I think there is something wrong in out system.

The crazy gang will slag anything off for nowt.

Attempting to reduce to their own level.

Fred1,

Re MP's expenses and The Inland Revenue, it is a case of, 'He who pays the Piper, calls the tune'.

Many a truth in old sayings.

Still waiting to see how many MPs are going to be prosecuted. Not holding my breath as expecting the CPS to state that prosecutions are, 'Not in the public interest'.

I do hope the electorate savage any presently standing MP who has been dipping his fingers in the trough and stands for re-election at the next election.

I am intrigued to see the list of MPS, who have been using the HP for entertainment purposes, and the association between their directorships, donations and other "rewards".

But, what intrigues me, what was the necessity for Ms Follett to have 6 phone lines on one premise unless you are running a business.

I suppose one phone could be for private use, one for overseas government business, one for private use, one for FAX. and another for direct communication to government.

Don't know, but would like to.

sorry fred, nodded off.....are you still at it....snorrrrrr

Balerboy, with a "snorrrrr" like that you must be in line for the trough,


I am interested to know who is in front of you in the queue?

Tories distorting crimes figures?

I don't believe it


Is Christopher Stephen "Chris" Grayling the new Goebbels of Politics.

============

Time to move on from the MP expenses. so I told by the McKays, B Jenkins Nick Winterton etc Mainly Tories seem to wish to leave their actions behind.

Move on, Move on .there are other troughs.

===================

If at any time I am stop by the police for anything. I will say I want to move on.

What are my chances?

Don't answer that!

Fred they are all as bad as each other , its just that Labour is badder.

Jimmyjust the way I would have said it

I can give many situations, backed up by specific examples of how Crime Statistics were being fiddled, in both the Conservative and Labour governments over the last 20 years. Retired for 6 year so can't prove this since 2003, but I doubt it's changed. Don't want to post these example if no one is interested, so will wait and see.

Re MP's expenses, with the amounts claimed for as expenses (many far north of the average wage for Joe Public) it makes you wonder what they use their actual salary for.
2517

Greek,

I am always interested in roguery.

This latest political spat on crime statistics is interpretation.

Collecting and correlation of statistical data can be a nightmare, especially when entities and groupings are often redefined. (Hopefully, to make the conclusions clearer and more relevant.)

(You can ask one of my daughters who correlated 10years of medical data. Longest two years of her life.)

Looking at the charges being made. it would seem to me to the tip of iceberg.

Why are numerous "claims" of a similar nature not pursued.

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. She claimed 1,000 to pay for computer equipment bought by her brother, who lives rent-free at her 'second home'. On May 28, said she would stand down at next election but did not apologise for her claims.

Bill Cash claimed more than 15,000 in taxpayer-funded expenses to pay his daughter rent for her west London flat even though he owned a home closer to Westminster. He has promised to repay the money and said he hopes to remain an MP

What this fellow's post?


Chris Grayling claimed for London flat despite nearby constituency home: MPs expenses

Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary claimed thousands of pounds to renovate a flat in central London bought with a mortgage funded at taxpayers expense, even though his constituency home is less than 17 miles from the House of Commons.


By Holly Watt and Gordon Rayner
Published: 7:15AM BST 11 May 2009
Chris Grayling: MPs' expenses
Chris Grayling, the Shadow Home Secretary, has his constituency in Surrey Photo: PA

Mr Grayling, who represents Epsom and Ewell, lives in a large house in Ashtead, Surrey, but also claims expenses for a flat in Pimlico, near the House of Commons. Mr Grayling also owns other buy-to-let flats and now has four properties within the M25.

The disclosure is particularly embarrassing for the Conservatives as Mr Grayling is the partys attack dog who has criticised a series of Labour ministers implicated in sleaze scandals.


Within weeks of first being elected in 2001, he bought a flat in a six-storey block for 127,000. In 2002, he set up an unusual arrangement with the Parliamentary Fees Office, claiming 625 a month for mortgages on two separate properties, both the main home and the new flat in Pimlico. This is usually against the rules, but Mr Grayling negotiated an agreement because he was unable to obtain a 100% mortgage on the London flat that he had bought.

This arrangement ended in May 2006.

Over the summer of 2005, Mr Grayling undertook a complete refurbishment of the flat. Shortly after the general election in May, Mr Grayling claimed 4,250 for redecorating and 1,561 for a new bathroom.

The next month, he claimed 1,341 for new kitchen units and in July, he claimed a further 1,527 for plumbing and 1,950 for work that included rewiring the flat throughout. It is thought to have risen substantially in value since then.

During the 2005-06 financial year, Mr Grayling claimed close to the maximum allowance for MPs.

However, in the following financial year he continued to submit receipts for the work that had been carried out the previous year.

This effectively allowed him to spread the costs over two years whereas he would have been unable to claim all the costs in the 2005-06 financial year. For example, in June 2006, Mr Grayling submitted an invoice for 3,534 for service and maintenance on his block of flats, which included a service charge of 1,148 and a balance brought forward of 1,956.

This was paid by the House of Commons authorities in the 2006-07 financial year, although the invoice refers to Tax point: 22 Feb 2006 and refers to costs carried out in the 2005-06 financial year.

A handwritten note on the invoice informed the fees office to Please note this has only just been issued, date notwithstanding.

In July 2006, Mr Grayling submitted a claim for 2,250. The invoice from the decorator was dated July 2006, and referred to remedial and refurbishment works July 2005.

On the claim form, Mr Grayling stated: Decorator has been very ill & didnt invoice me until now.

If the various late receipts had been submitted in the 2005-06 financial year, they would have exceeded Mr Graylings second home allowance for the 12-month period by over 4,700.

However, they were still paid by the Fees Office.

Mr Grayling has a sizeable property portfolio. The Pimlico flat, which is only a short walk from the Commons is believed to have risen in value despite the recession. A studio flat in the same block is currently on sale for 235,000.

On the Parliamentary register of interests, Mr Grayling declares that he rents out two further houses that he owns in London.

The family home he shares with wife Sue and their two children in Ashtead is inside the M25 and in the heart of Surreys commuter belt. The imposing house with its sweeping drive and grounds cost 680,000 in 2000.

Mr Grayling defended his claims last night and said that using one of his existing properties would not have saved the taxpayer money. I needed two loans to buy my London flat in 2001, he said.

One was the standard maximum loan available for a second property and the second was to pay for the 20 per cent deposit. In addition to serving my constituents, I have spent several years serving in the shadow cabinet, currently as the shadow home secretary.

===========================


I am beginning to believe there are less criminal in Pentonville than our HPs.

And some criticise the Italian Mafia (Government). under Berlusconi. The almost seem squeaky clean.

Bit disappointed to see Dennis Skinner on the list, even for modest amount. I would have put money on the beast of Bolsover being squeaky clean, even though I do not agree with most of his politics. Thought George Galloway spoke a lot of good sense on Question Time last night, particularly the suggestion that we should halve the number of MPs.

Fred,

I hope there are more prosecutions to come, but apart from the one still being considered I doubt it. My feeling is that there is no one with the bottle to go for the jugular of this corrupt mess and they have taking the four mentioned as an attempt to placate the electorate. Well it ain't placated me, although I must admit to punching the air a bit. As you rightly state, there are many more out there where the evidence looks to be sufficient to prosecute for fraud.
I have known several cases where a person has been prosecuted for fraud (usually false accounting) where it can be shown that they have made far few false claims than many MPs.
Also when employees are dismissed due to fraud, mainly in the public sector they loose their private pension rights, only receiving the contributions personally made.
I bet this does not happen to any MPs found guilty.
Also many employees who commit fraud, where it is not deemed prudent to take them to court due to perhaps the committing of a single offence are dismissed, also loosing pension rights. This is common practise in those employees holding positions of trust. I know of at least two Police Officers who fiddled their expenses, one gaining less than 100 who were dismissed loosing their pension rights.
Also a common prosecution taken against people in positions of public office is that of Misconduct In Public Office, which again is an offence that several Police Officers have been prosecuted for.
If you wish to peruse the link, I think most will agree there are many MP that fit into this category.
So why is this not happening to our Honourable (sic) Members of Parliament.

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/misconduct_in_public_office/

partridge,

Yes I think the number of MPs should be halved. Get rid of that load of tory mobsters.

Actually, have some time for Galloway. Think he is a little bit of a rogue, but does have a gift for the right turn of speech and a sense of humour.

Surprised at his opinion on "assisted suicide".

Greek I agree with you.

Copied.

I can understand when one buys a house and then downsizes or upsizes over a period of years and it is the only house you have that you don't have to paid Capital gains. In general quiet sensible.

However, if a person is "flipping" a house 5 times in a few years and making 300,000 I would think this amounts to treating properties dealing as a business and therefore taxable as a business.

But look around at BAE.

We criticise Iraq, Pakistan; Afghanistan etc.

Perhaps, we should have a complete clean up first in the Uk.

Fred,

Always looked at flipping as a legal, but immoral fiddle, but never thought if it as a business angle. Good point.

What we need is the HMC to act, they are very quick to jump on ordinary folk and they don't except excuses.