Latest Moan From You and Me 2025

I'm not keen on all these MPs living miles away from their constancies anyway, what the hell is she doing buy her so called first home in Hove.

 

Political parties really should select their candidates from the local areas that they will represent. Too often, they pick a ‘safe seat’ to parachute in a favoured candidate, who knows next to nothing about the realities of living in the constituency. Then they have the expense of having to have a home there, if I understand it correctly, with all the associated costs of maintaining their original home, and potential for dodgy claims for allowances of some kind or another.

I find it inexcusable that any member of the cabinet would not make sure that all their personal and public finances are squeaky clean. They must have access to the best tax and property advice in the nation, and a vested interest in following the rules to the letter.
It does seem that Rayner ignored the advice that she should consult a tax expert, and interestingly, did not use the legal firm that set up the trust for her son, who I’m sure would have put her straight pretty quickly.

Not sorry she has gone, she was just a front for the trade unions. I’m speaking as a past trade Union member, and a ‘shop steward’ as well! Anyone under the illusion that trade unions are there to protect the interests of the working man or woman, needs reminding that it’s only the members of their own union that they have any allegiance to, the rest of the workforce can go to blazes. Often happier if they do, as that’ll encourage more people to join and pay their subscriptions.

 

Questions over questions.
I read in the Guardian’s reader comments that she’s net worth of 4.7 mill. If that is correct, no idea. But to buy such flat with that mortgage, she seems to more income than her now lost job.

 

Yes, it would be so much more sensible and less expensive for an MP to reside in the constituency they represent but that will never change. However, it would still create "expenses" for an MP to travel to Westminster to sit in Parliament.
As far as those parties calling "cheat", you don't have to go back many years when Farage was milking the expenses system as an MEP - particularly when he never agreed with the EU concept.

 

They all have their noses in the trough, its just a matter of keeping it legal in some way.

What MEP wasn't milking it.
Those in the House of Lords are another bunch that need sorting out, any that doze off should be stripped of the title and thrown out.

 

Actually, I think she may have been unlucky to trip up over this. As I understand it, the key point is her son is 17 rather than 18. As he is under 18, any assets held in his trust are deemed to belong to her for tax purposes, hence the Stamp Duty is due. Had he been a few months older, it would not have been.

I'm not a fan of trusts as tax dodges, but where a disabled child is concerned, one to manage funds received in compensation because of inadequate NHS care during his delivery seems entirely legitimate.

 

Rayner shouldn't have been given the opportunity to resign. She should have been sacked immediately it became clear she had lied about being given that advice by solicitors. Unfortunately Starmer lacks any form of backbone.

 

How many people in these kind of jobs actually get sacked, they are all given the chance to resign.

 

As there seem to be loads of previously empty hotels available to accommodate our water borne visitors, convert them to accommodation for MPs. That should result in a massive reduction in expenses claims.

 

Easier to come back after a suitable interval maybe. Actually I'm impressed she resigned, and within minutes of the investigation report landing on Keir's desk.

Was it Priti Patel who was sacked and then reinstated about 48 hrs later? Obviously that was back in the days of Boris, when ethics weren't a thing. And Gavin Williamson was sacked on several occasions, but it had no effect on his meteoric rise to the Lords.

 

Our local dump has a compost giveaway coming up next weekend on the 13th and wouldn't you know it, I'd already promised the van to #1 son for that weekend

Maybe I can put the top down on my Mustang and pack in bags of it... we're allowed 7 x 120 liter bags/containers...

 

Hi

my only concern what does the compost contain ..

 

It would be brown bag stuff that's been rotted. Our brown bag is garden waste filled. No food or other green bin items.

So the answer is that I don’t know.