Lib Dems, in government but still claiming millions in 'opposition' fees scandal

Well, well, the Lib Dems are claiming off the taxpayer for millions of pounds for being in 'opposition' while actually they are in the coalition government. Are there any depths those Lib Dems won't sink to?

The whole idea of 'short money' is to fund the necessary 'administration' of opposition parties when, obviously, they are NOT in government. The reason for this is because the government has these resources already available to them already through the vast civil service and access to control of tax revenue etc.

The Lib Dems trying to get the 'opposition' money while actually being in functional ministerial posts in almost every government department, is like someone who is already in a job claiming unemployment benefit - which is illegal - and the Lib Dems should not be getting that 'opposition' money.

And this kind of typical Lib Dem politician money grabbing sleaze comes on the same day The Lib Dem/Conservative coalition announce that in London alone they will be sacking at least 1200 nurses and 90 consultant doctors plus at least 60 GPs.

THIS is the *new* politics.

And by the way, the so called 'rumours' referred to in the article below have now been CONFIRMED on Newsnight by a Lib Dem minister.

Liberal Democrats are trying to keep receiving Short money. That's the taxpayers money which opposition parties - yes, OPPOSITION parties - get from the state to help balance the fact that the governing party has the distinct advantage of being in office, with special advisers, and so on. And now, of course, the Lib Dems are a governing party, so shouldn't be entitled to Short money. ...

If the Lib Dems are indeed trying to keep up the Short payments it will look very odd in this era of 'new politics' and financial stringency.

Coming on top of the row over the proposed 55 per cent rule, the Lib Dems will inevitably be accused, having now obtained some power, of trying to rig the system in their own favour.

Lib Dem scandal Newsnight link



[edit on 20-5-2010 by Durant]

Whilst i'm not saying this is not the truth, it does say that it is just a rumour at this stage.

Hopefully the Lib Dem's won't be stupid enough to actualy do this, then again we all know what politicians are like, no matter what party they are from.

It's only a few days since they took over, maybe it takes a little lime for the finances to be sorted out. Like an overlap of payments that will need to be sorted out and paid back at some point.

CX.

Originally posted by CX
Whilst i'm not saying this is not the truth, it does say that it is just a rumour at this stage.

NO IT DOESN'T SAY THAT -READ WHAT I POSTED. I have already written in my post that since that BBC news article post was written there has been a live Newsnight programme ON THE TELEVISION LAST NIGHT, where a lib Dem representative CONFIRMED that they are claiming the 'opposition' money.

IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED SINCE THE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN.

It's only a few days since they took over, maybe it takes a little lime for the finances to be sorted out. Like an overlap of payments that will need to be sorted out and paid back at some point.

CX.

Er, RLMAO. That isn't how it works. You're just showing how ill-informed you are with that silly remark.

They don't pay it back, duh.

Ok firstly, the article you posted does not say it has been confirmed by Newsnight, and to be honest i didn't see that when you first posted this thread. Maybe that was what the edit was about?

In any case, if it's been confirmed, a link to proof of this would compliment the thread nicely.

Secondly, i'm not perfect when it comes to reply ettiquette, but posting half of your reply in capitals so as to make a point, and slagging off my "silly remark"....topped off with a "Duh!"....is hardly the way to encourage people to take any notice of what you write.

It may have been a silly remark, but it was the only reply to your thread. Most people would have been grateful for the recognition of your thread.

You take care now.

CX.

Originally posted by CX
Ok firstly, the article you posted does not say it has been confirmed by Newsnight, and to be honest i didn't see that when you first posted this thread. Maybe that was what the edit was about?

In any case, if it's been confirmed, a link to proof of this would compliment the thread nicely.

My POST stated about the update. You should have read my post BEFORE reading the link. It could not have been clearer.

If you don't want to believe what I have written about the update, then fine, but it was on national TV, so why you would think I would make up that I don't know.

But, you could check it out on the BBC Player, they have videos of all the Newsnight programmes there if you want to check.

Please don't get me wrong, i did not say you made it up, just that it was a rumour.

Thanks for the info on the BBC Player episodes.

CX.

As long as you understand that it has been confirmed since the article.

People made a big deal out of the expenses scandal but the costs of those 'opposition' payment overshadows those amounts.

Btw, you didn't say what you think about them claiming the 'opposition' money while actually being the government?

And just to be clear, the payments are not automatic, as you suggested, it's not about paying it back or anything like that.

Double post.

CX.

[edit on 20/5/10 by CX]

I'm amazed that anyone is actually suprised at this.

This from a party that was as involved as all the other's in the MP's expenses row and have since compromised all of their alleged values to gain a little bit of power.