I'm sure I am missing something here

[Snoopy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/worldservice/psims/ScheduleSDT.cgi?Pg=Co&Co=CY%3ACyprus%3A0-45

So MPs are going to be given a tax free allowance of up to £24,000 per year to spend on living away from home and they will not need to produce receipts or anything to show how they have spent it and this will stop them "fiddling" or being accused of "fiddling" their expenses claims. On top of this they will still be able to claim all their other expenses, for staff, constituency offices, postage, travel etc that they currently enjoy.
AND this is going to make them more honest?

Is it me?

[Darwins Selection]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/worldservice/psims/ScheduleSDT.cgi?Pg=Co&Co=CY%3ACyprus%3A0-45

So MPs are going to be given a tax free allowance of up to £24,000 per year to spend on living away from home and they will not need to produce receipts or anything to show how they have spent it and this will stop them "fiddling" or being accused of "fiddling" their expenses claims. On top of this they will still be able to claim all their other expenses, for staff, constiuency offices, postage, travel etc that they currently enjoy.
AND this is going to make them more honest?

Is it me?

 

Normal practice, if the rulemakers keep on getting caught breaking the rules then write new rules to allow the transgression. 

[Grumpmeister]

I've been thinking about this whole thing for a while and I've realised that MP's dont need to leave their constituencies at all. Videoconferencing technology is more than adequate to allow them to 'work' (or whatever it is they do to pass the time). And for the times they do need to arrive have a generic residence style building somewhere capable of accomodating all member of the house of commons.

Also with the exception of the prime minister MP's should not be allowed into the cabinet. Gordo talked about a cabinet of skills when he first came in and taken to its logical conclusion he's right. Advertise the cabinet positions and recruit them as you would any high end job going through an independant agency, making sure that you have candidates with the relevant knowledge and experience. Former teachers for education, doctors/matrons for the health service, former servicement (ideally who have seen combat) for defence etc.

[Snoopy]

Tsk ~ tip up the trough and the buggers will still scrabble around in the mud to get at what they want.

[Grumpmeister]

True, but it would cut down the amount of damage they could do to the country while getting their 'extras'

[Grumpmeister]

And if I really wanted to set the cat amongst the pidgeon I'd put the cabinet on performance related pay.

[Darwins Selection]

And if I really wanted to set the cat amongst the pidgeon I'd put the cabinet on performance related pay.

 

[Snoopy]

And if I really wanted to set the cat amongst the pidgeon I'd put the cabinet on performance related pay.

Given that performance has to measured against desired outcomes (there's a buzz phrase for you) and accepting that their collective desired outcome is to make as much for themselves without doing a real job, whilst collecting Knighthoods, honours etc along the way, using only their ability to lie, steal and cheat their way to the top of the food chain ~ I'd say they would welcome performance related pay.