SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE?..
So, Mrs. Grant was one of the `new intake` of MPs in 2010 but she`s a smart lady and her undoubted talents, having been spotted early on in her political career (possibly as early as when she joined the Labour Party a mere eight years ago in 2004) have led to her being appointed just two months ago to the dual role of Under Secretary of State for Justice and Under Secretary of State for Women and Equalities.
Now Mrs. Grant has a very smart family home in a posh bit of the Surrey commuter belt but because she represents the Maidstone constituency in Kent she is allowed to claim for a posh apartment in London as a `second home.` And she does, to the absolute maximum amount permitted by the rules of £1666 a month - to the maximum of £20,000 a year. Moreover, Mrs. Grant`s husband works as her Parliamentary Assistant at a reported salary of another £20,000 a year. All this on top of her salaries as a Minister and an MP and all the trappings, privileges and freebies of `office` which MPs enjoy. They really don`t seem able to resist any gravy train that rolls towards them laden with cash and tips on how to milk a feeble system for guarding taxpayers money.
Of course, Mrs. Grant is not alone in this liberal interpretation of the rules governing MPs expenses. And of course, as Mrs. Grant and countless other MPs have confirmed, what they are claiming is `within the rules,` so to that extent there can presumably be no criticism of the claims being made.
But one is drawn to conclusions which include the obvious need for the rules to be clarified and tightened up yet again and for MPs perhaps to have a little more guidance with regard to the spirit of the rules rather than just the letter of them. Especially if you`re a Minister responsible for Justice?
This is Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, who when the Conservative votes were weighed at the last General Election, found herself following the forgettable Ann Widdecombe, who had called it a day in politics and retired to a life of celebrity tv, pantomime and a mercifully fruitless pursuit of sainthood.
So, Mrs. Grant was one of the `new intake` of MPs in 2010 but she`s a smart lady and her undoubted talents, having been spotted early on in her political career (possibly as early as when she joined the Labour Party a mere eight years ago in 2004) have led to her being appointed just two months ago to the dual role of Under Secretary of State for Justice and Under Secretary of State for Women and Equalities.
Now Mrs. Grant has a very smart family home in a posh bit of the Surrey commuter belt but because she represents the Maidstone constituency in Kent she is allowed to claim for a posh apartment in London as a `second home.` And she does, to the absolute maximum amount permitted by the rules of £1666 a month - to the maximum of £20,000 a year. Moreover, Mrs. Grant`s husband works as her Parliamentary Assistant at a reported salary of another £20,000 a year. All this on top of her salaries as a Minister and an MP and all the trappings, privileges and freebies of `office` which MPs enjoy. They really don`t seem able to resist any gravy train that rolls towards them laden with cash and tips on how to milk a feeble system for guarding taxpayers money.
Of course, Mrs. Grant is not alone in this liberal interpretation of the rules governing MPs expenses. And of course, as Mrs. Grant and countless other MPs have confirmed, what they are claiming is `within the rules,` so to that extent there can presumably be no criticism of the claims being made.
But one is drawn to conclusions which include the obvious need for the rules to be clarified and tightened up yet again and for MPs perhaps to have a little more guidance with regard to the spirit of the rules rather than just the letter of them. Especially if you`re a Minister responsible for Justice?
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