Hove MP's 50p milk expenses claim (From The Bolton News)

So an MP from the same party of Thatcher the Milk Snatcher as the cheek to try claiming money from us for his office's milk? I buy milk regularly for my office and don't expect to be paid back. Why should he? Of all the nerve...

Public servant? More like public sponge.

Bargain time ,Mike tried to claim 50p for milk on the 6th sept ,as the Argus get's it fact correct 24/7 then think 50p was great value Ladies of the office will send packet of choc biscuits down just to save Mike getting got at by this paper

What a waste of time and money. It must have cost a lot more than 50p to process and reject claim. This is just getting plain silly

SW help-vote. Someone in the Argus has a GSOH

Erm, what has happened to the BRIGHTON MP Lucas? Apart from appearing on Channel 4's dire 'comedy' show last night, has anyone seen her lately? Certainly not down here they haven't!!

The biggest mistake of my life was when I voted for this man at the General Election. You never seem to see him or Ms Lucus of Brighton about. Whatever anyone thought of Ivor Caplin you always saw him about in Hove. I wish there was a general election coming up, either of them would get in again.

"Lewes MP Norman Baker claimed £14,834, which mostly covered office costs" - is that still the office which is part of his own home, which he was caught out charging himself rent for?

Those of you looking for Caroline Lucas would have found her before 9am at Preston Park station where she was talking to commuters about their dissatisfaction with their current service - she was also talking to the media, including the Argus, although due to the Argus's reluctance to print anything about Lucas, you could be forgiven for not being aware of her activity in Brighton.

Those of you looking for Caroline Lucas would have found her before 9am at Preston Park station where she was talking to commuters about their dissatisfaction with their current service - she was also talking to the media, including the Argus, although due to the Argus's reluctance to print anything about Lucas, you could be forgiven for not being aware of her activity in Brighton.

Those of you looking for Caroline Lucas would have found her before 9am at Preston Park station where she was talking to commuters about their dissatisfaction with their current service - she was also talking to the media, including the Argus, although due to the Argus's reluctance to print anything about Lucas, you could be forgiven for not being aware of her activity in Brighton.

The milk is somewhat symbolic of this Govt milking everyone of their last penny while they continue to live it up.

Betty Blue wrote:
The biggest mistake of my life was when I voted for this man at the General Election. You never seem to see him or Ms Lucus of Brighton about. Whatever anyone thought of Ivor Caplin you always saw him about in Hove. I wish there was a general election coming up, either of them would get in again.

Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove is expected at the Hove Park Bowls pavilion at 2:45pm Saturday where an exhibition and public consultation exercise will be taking place involving residents and Council planning officers with a view to producing a planning brief for appropriate redevelopment of the Prk House site.

Our MP contacted saveHOVE with a view to being helpful concerning the issue of the Park House redevelopment problems and getting him to come to this event was extremely easy to organise.

If you want to see what your MP is doing, you can look at theyworkforyou.com. Among other things, this contains details of what individual MPs say in parliament, how they vote, how frequently they speak, their interests (both topics of interest and monetary interest), and how much they do compared to the average MP. Please don't take this as necessarily supporting Caroline Lucas, but http://www.theyworkf
oryou.com/mp/carolin
e_lucas/brighton%2C_
pavilion shows the following: "Has spoken in 53 debates in the last year — well above average amongst MPs.
Has received answers to 429 written questions in the last year — well above average amongst MPs.
Has voted in 85% of votes in this Parliament with this affiliation — above average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
People have made 4 annotations on this MP’s speeches — average amongst MPs.
This MP's speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
370 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever Caroline Lucas speaks.
Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 50 times in debates — below average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?) "

saveHOVE wrote:

Betty Blue wrote: The biggest mistake of my life was when I voted for this man at the General Election. You never seem to see him or Ms Lucus of Brighton about. Whatever anyone thought of Ivor Caplin you always saw him about in Hove. I wish there was a general election coming up, either of them would get in again.

Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove is expected at the Hove Park Bowls pavilion at 2:45pm Saturday where an exhibition and public consultation exercise will be taking place involving residents and Council planning officers with a view to producing a planning brief for appropriate redevelopment of the Prk House site. Our MP contacted saveHOVE with a view to being helpful concerning the issue of the Park House redevelopment problems and getting him to come to this event was extremely easy to organise.

Wow(!) He's making a special one off appearance. Ring out the bells, and get the chap a pint of milk too while you're at it.

Speaking of sparsely seen MPs, what's Simon Kirby up to these days?

Number Six wrote:
What a waste of time and money. It must have cost a lot more than 50p to process and reject claim. This is just getting plain silly

SW help-vote. Someone in the Argus has a GSOH

General Smell of Haddock?

Betty Blue wrote:
The biggest mistake of my life was when I voted for this man at the General Election. You never seem to see him or Ms Lucus of Brighton about. Whatever anyone thought of Ivor Caplin you always saw him about in Hove. I wish there was a general election coming up, either of them would get in again.

I didn't know it was Mr Wetherley MP's duty to socialise and be a face around town? Have you considered the idea that he might.........be busy and working?! 50p is a bargain for a man that genuinely cares about Hove! Good luck to him!

How can anyone attempt to justify this penny pinching.

For all of you spin doctors on this forum, it's an absolute disgrace that this ligger is trying to claim for a pint of milk when so many people are struggling.

It's clear that he hasn't got a grip on the public's view on this sort of thing following the theft of public money by mp's last year.

JUST DON'T VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN

gmgc81 wrote:

saveHOVE wrote:

Betty Blue wrote: The biggest mistake of my life was when I voted for this man at the General Election. You never seem to see him or Ms Lucus of Brighton about. Whatever anyone thought of Ivor Caplin you always saw him about in Hove. I wish there was a general election coming up, either of them would get in again.

Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove is expected at the Hove Park Bowls pavilion at 2:45pm Saturday where an exhibition and public consultation exercise will be taking place involving residents and Council planning officers with a view to producing a planning brief for appropriate redevelopment of the Prk House site. Our MP contacted saveHOVE with a view to being helpful concerning the issue of the Park House redevelopment problems and getting him to come to this event was extremely easy to organise.

Wow(!) He's making a special one off appearance. Ring out the bells, and get the chap a pint of milk too while you're at it. Speaking of sparsely seen MPs, what's Simon Kirby up to these days?

Whats the betting he does not turn up.

Music Lover wrote:
How can anyone attempt to justify this penny pinching. For all of you spin doctors on this forum, it's an absolute disgrace that this ligger is trying to claim for a pint of milk when so many people are struggling. It's clear that he hasn't got a grip on the public's view on this sort of thing following the theft of public money by mp's last year. JUST DON'T VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN

I doubt that it was an individual claim for a pint of milk, probably just one of many receipts in the petty cash tin.
The ridiculous part of this is that scrutineers have been thoroughly checking the claims, at a cost of thousands to prevent the cost of a pint of milk, which was for the office staff to use, being payed out as an office expense.
The biggest story regarding MP expenses, after those that had been taking the **** and flipping houses, should have been the low level of claims from the majority of MP's given the generosity of the old system.
-
The Telegraph did a huge dis-service to this country in the way that they drip fed this story to the public and spun the story to make it seem that the majority of MP's were either fiddling their expenses or penny pinching. They should have properly hung out to dry the few that had acted illegally and those that had severely abused the generosity of the system.
As for MP's not being able to get a grip on the public's view on this, it is because the publics view on this is nonsensical, and born out of misunderstanding, it highlights the ability of the press to manipulate the public.

Caroline Lucas has a web site, blog and is on Twitter. It's quite easy to find out what she's been doing in Parliament. Outside of that, I know she's been assisting the planning for the May local elections. You're not going to see her around all the time, but you will find that she's being a conscientious local MP.

Baldseagull wrote:

Music Lover wrote: How can anyone attempt to justify this penny pinching. For all of you spin doctors on this forum, it's an absolute disgrace that this ligger is trying to claim for a pint of milk when so many people are struggling. It's clear that he hasn't got a grip on the public's view on this sort of thing following the theft of public money by mp's last year. JUST DON'T VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN

I doubt that it was an individual claim for a pint of milk, probably just one of many receipts in the petty cash tin. The ridiculous part of this is that scrutineers have been thoroughly checking the claims, at a cost of thousands to prevent the cost of a pint of milk, which was for the office staff to use, being payed out as an office expense. The biggest story regarding MP expenses, after those that had been taking the **** and flipping houses, should have been the low level of claims from the majority of MP's given the generosity of the old system. - The Telegraph did a huge dis-service to this country in the way that they drip fed this story to the public and spun the story to make it seem that the majority of MP's were either fiddling their expenses or penny pinching. They should have properly hung out to dry the few that had acted illegally and those that had severely abused the generosity of the system. As for MP's not being able to get a grip on the public's view on this, it is because the publics view on this is nonsensical, and born out of misunderstanding, it highlights the ability of the press to manipulate the public.

Quite agree, Baldseagull. It's the howling hypocrisy that gets me. How many of these self-righteous whiners on here haven't used the office phone for personal calls, nicked a bit of office stationery, bumped up their mileage, used the firms postage etc etc. While no one supports claims for moats and duck houses getting worked up about 50p milk just trivialises the whole issue

50 pence for a pint of milk.
How much is a pint of Lucasaid?.

Nick Brighton wrote:
Caroline Lucas has a web site, blog and is on Twitter. It's quite easy to find out what she's been doing in Parliament. Outside of that, I know she's been assisting the planning for the May local elections. You're not going to see her around all the time, but you will find that she's being a conscientious local MP.

I know shes doing alot (as are Mike Weatherley and many others), unfortunately most of it is for her self-promotion and as leader of the Greens, rather than being a LOCAL MP.

Numbersix, you might be a thief and steal from your employers and think that the odd illegal claim is ok in the office or in politics, but most of the public do not steal from their employers and do not think it is right to do so.
Two wrongs do not make a right.
Also for you baldseagull to suggest the Telegraph did the country a dis-service is utterly astonishing and down-right condescending to the public.
It was not just about the actual claims, it was about the fact many MPs (of all parties) were saying one thing and doing another and rolling out policies and influencing economic policies while being immune themselves from the impact of such policies by taking whatever they could.
The Telegraph exposed hypocrisy, theft as well as exposed the true measure of many politicians. It gave us a real insight into the type of people we were electing irrespective of politics.
What the new system fails to do, is expose the 'favours' MPs receive for their children, family members, colleagues, business contacts in gaining contracts, employment, quick NHS operations etc
There are no paper trails for these 'favours' but I can assure you they go on and it is a very influential 'boys and girls' club.
This 'club' is also well used by most politicians and just because they have 'low level' expense claims does not mean they are not benefitting in less obvious ways.
The story about the milk receipt is not about the 50 pence, it portrays many messages to the public depending on perception.
It could suggest the MP is a miser, is finding it tough living under the Tory economic situation, thinks he is entitled, is a grasper, etc, or it may portray that he is doing the right thing and claiming in the correct way.
My perception is that he has put in a 50 pence claim which has costs hundreds of pounds to process no doubt so perhaps should have just put the money in the pot himself and written it off as part of his salary.
It is after all his office and I can't claim for milk when I work from home in my office for my employer.

thucydides wrote:
Those of you looking for Caroline Lucas would have found her before 9am at Preston Park station where she was talking to commuters about their dissatisfaction with their current service - she was also talking to the media, including the Argus, although due to the Argus's reluctance to print anything about Lucas, you could be forgiven for not being aware of her activity in Brighton.

ha ha ha! talking to commuters about their dissatisfaction! AND DOING DIDDLY SQUAT ABOUT IT! as they all do... i'll show up let them bend my ear and do bugger all about prices and overcrowding (and i know she doesn't run the railways or fix the prices) so why the hell bother???) security word.. role-hour, shame it wasn't rush hour lol.

I think we need to know a bit more about the sort of milk he is providing for his staff. Organic? Full fat is the most nourishing. Or perhaps he has got a special deal on goats' milk? Let's hope he does not now palm them off with milk powder.

TheInsider wrote:
Numbersix, you might be a thief and steal from your employers and think that the odd illegal claim is ok in the office or in politics, but most of the public do not steal from their employers and do not think it is right to do so. Two wrongs do not make a right. Also for you baldseagull to suggest the Telegraph did the country a dis-service is utterly astonishing and down-right condescending to the public. It was not just about the actual claims, it was about the fact many MPs (of all parties) were saying one thing and doing another and rolling out policies and influencing economic policies while being immune themselves from the impact of such policies by taking whatever they could. The Telegraph exposed hypocrisy, theft as well as exposed the true measure of many politicians. It gave us a real insight into the type of people we were electing irrespective of politics. What the new system fails to do, is expose the 'favours' MPs receive for their children, family members, colleagues, business contacts in gaining contracts, employment, quick NHS operations etc There are no paper trails for these 'favours' but I can assure you they go on and it is a very influential 'boys and girls' club. This 'club' is also well used by most politicians and just because they have 'low level' expense claims does not mean they are not benefitting in less obvious ways. The story about the milk receipt is not about the 50 pence, it portrays many messages to the public depending on perception. It could suggest the MP is a miser, is finding it tough living under the Tory economic situation, thinks he is entitled, is a grasper, etc, or it may portray that he is doing the right thing and claiming in the correct way. My perception is that he has put in a 50 pence claim which has costs hundreds of pounds to process no doubt so perhaps should have just put the money in the pot himself and written it off as part of his salary. It is after all his office and I can't claim for milk when I work from home in my office for my employer.

OK. Now read my post again, properly this time, and tell me were I have written that I think it is OK to steal from your employer. I most certainly do not think that, and to suggest otherwise is jumping to conclusions of Olympic proportions. However, my long experience of work overwhelming suggests that I am in the minority and that most people do not see much wrong with using their employers resource for their own purposes.

The tone of your comment suggests that as people steal from their employers it's ok for MPs to fiddle expenses.
Well it's not and if you know employees who are stealing in your workplace you should stick your head above the parapet and report them instead of whining on here that people in here are probably hypocrites as we probably steal too.
Well I don't and I don't tolerate employees who do either. What the Telegraph did was right and proper and if people think exposing theft is wrong then they have a very skewed view of the world.

Mike you were stupid to make a 50 p claim.As for the Greens if they take over Brighton & Hove prepare for the influx of save the planet scroungers in their caravans parking anyhwhere they want as parking wardens ignore them.

TheInsider wrote:
The tone of your comment suggests that as people steal from their employers it's ok for MPs to fiddle expenses. Well it's not and if you know employees who are stealing in your workplace you should stick your head above the parapet and report them instead of whining on here that people in here are probably hypocrites as we probably steal too. Well I don't and I don't tolerate employees who do either. What the Telegraph did was right and proper and if people think exposing theft is wrong then they have a very skewed view of the world.

Let's try again. A little more slowly this time.

"The tone of your comment suggests that as people steal from their employers it's ok for MPs to fiddle expenses. " That is incorrect, you just choose to make that unfounded asumption. You were asked where I said otherwise and you have not done so. Most certainly I do not think that is acceptable for people to steal from their employers or for MPs to fiddle their expenses. I just think that it is wrong for anybody to criticise if they are doing the same thing in their own lives.

Since I have no mentioned the Telegraph I have no idea why you are talking to me about it. Suffice to say that the Telegraph has not acted out of any altruistic motive, merely to sell more papers. If the reports that they paid the whistle-blower £100,000 are true then neither csn claim to have adopted the moral high ground

Let's try again. A little more slowly this time.

"The tone of your comment suggests that as people steal from their employers it's ok for MPs to fiddle expenses. " That is incorrect, you just choose to make that unfounded asumption. You were asked where I said otherwise and you have not done so. Most certainly I do not think that is acceptable for people to steal from their employers or for MPs to fiddle their expenses. I just think that it is wrong for anybody to criticise if they are doing the same thing in their own lives.

Since I have no mentioned the Telegraph I have no idea why you are talking to me about it. Suffice to say that the Telegraph has not acted out of any altruistic motive, merely to sell more papers. If the reports that they paid the whistle-blower £100,000 are true then neither csn claim to have adopted the moral high ground

The only solution to this situation is NOT to vote for him again.

Number Six, you can use patronising phrases such as let's try again a little more slowly this time, but it doesn't detract from the fact that your communication has been very poor.
You held onto the tail of Baldseagull.
Baldseagull made a whole range of points (re-read above) and you simply replied: Quite right Baldseagull.
That suggested to any reader that you agreed with all of his/her points including the one about The Telegraph.
You stated that people commenting on the expense issue themselves were hyprocrites by suggesting that they had probably 'stolen' from their employers.
How did you reach this assumption? Do you know us? Or is your assumption based on what you have seen theft in your workplace over a long period of time...which also suggests you have done nothing about it.
You should take a stand in your workplace if you see theft instead of allowing it to continue because it makes you part of the theft.
And if a whistleblower gets paid to expose a much bigger level of theft, then so be it because clearly there are people such as yourself around who do not stand up to theft unless there is something in it for themselves rather than it being the right thing to do.
The police pay informants and rewards are given to criminals who expose 'bigger' criminals.
It's the way of the world.
As Edmund Burke said: "All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing."
I don't care who exposes wrong or for whatever reason as long as the changes are for the better.

Nick Brighton wrote:
Caroline Lucas has a web site, blog and is on Twitter. It's quite easy to find out what she's been doing in Parliament. Outside of that, I know she's been assisting the planning for the May local elections. You're not going to see her around all the time, but you will find that she's being a conscientious local MP.

Gone are the days when our local representatives kept a constant look out for uneven pavements, overhanging branches and helped constituents to resolve other local issues

fascinator wrote:

Nick Brighton wrote: Caroline Lucas has a web site, blog and is on Twitter. It's quite easy to find out what she's been doing in Parliament. Outside of that, I know she's been assisting the planning for the May local elections. You're not going to see her around all the time, but you will find that she's being a conscientious local MP.

Gone are the days when our local representatives kept a constant look out for uneven pavements, overhanging branches and helped constituents to resolve other local issues

Am I missing something here? I thought pavements and overhanging branches were LOCAL GOVERNMENT issues, to be addressed by Councillors, not MPs. Which begs the question: who is my councillor, and have I seen him/her around recently?

Do these MP's do this because they can or because they know it will make ordinary hard working taxpayers like myself very angry? I really really detest MP's now, and MP's like this have besmirched any good name they ever had.

I love Sussex wrote:
Do these MP's do this because they can or because they know it will make ordinary hard working taxpayers like myself very angry? I really really detest MP's now, and MP's like this have besmirched any good name they ever had.

Quite simply answered: because they can (or, rather, could).

Great stuff guys!

I'm seeing Mike tomorrow, will let you know if he helps us or not with our issue that we are fighting to get help with. It was very easy to get hold of him and he came back very fast with an offer to meet up. So far he's already done more than the last waste of space who fobbed us off.

I'm seeing Mike tomorrow, will let you know if he helps us or not with our issue that we are fighting to get help with. It was very easy to get hold of him and he came back very fast with an offer to meet up. So far he's already done more than the last waste of space who fobbed us off.