Baroness Uddin - no prosecution.

[Sid Squid]

Disgusting.

Link. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8564017.stm)

A peer has really taken the wee over her expenses, she's stolen £100,000 pounds of our money - there's no other way to say it.

But she won't be prosecuted, I'm really angry about this.

[G]

Was always going to be the case... Robin Hood was always a myth, the rich and fat would never have let him get away with it.

[Bri w]

I think that the the expense rules were seriously flawed. What she did may well have been within the rules but morally she was robbing us blind and she knows it.

[Luckypants]

You may well be correct Sid, but what she did was within the rules - just! I cannot see a prosecution succeeding based on what is in that article. (and I have not followed this with any interest prior). I actually have some sympathy for those MPs who did not take the ****, just used the rules to their max (as we all do with expenses if we are honest) but get pilloried for it by the mob mentality.

The whole problem with the expenses row is that the rules were lax and poorly enforced, so many felt they could get away with some 'padding'. It is only stealing where these rules were breached, which it appears is quite hard to do!

[Ed]

Morally bankrupt rather than financially bankrupt.

I wonder whether her political party is proud to have her as a peer. I hope that her policitcal career is over.

Ed

[yorkie_chris]

Call me an idealist but to be elected should be a sacrifice, a service to your country. Not a businesslike means to grow rich. (, fat, and ugly in this case)

Scrap the lot, build a hotel next to the house of commons. Stay in it for free whenever you need to be in that London and earn a reasonable wage and bugger all else.

[Spiderman]

The rich is getting richer everyday.

None of these scumbags were ever going to get more than a slap on the wrist and we all knew it. Its the ones who got caught and said we'll i'll pay it back then like they were doing something so big by doing so that made me angriest.

its like a bank robber getting caught after fleeing and simply saying "well heres the money, so you dont need to hold me accountable for the theft since im giving it all back"
:mad:

[yorkie_chris]

They've been taking the p*ss but within the rules, just.
Pretty hard to do anything other than not vote for them next time around in the case of MPs, but for peers I'd say no great loss, string them up.

[Sid Squid]

I have not followed this with any interest prior
A bit of detail:

- Lives about 5 miles from Parliament but bought a flat in Maidstone, despite her own website saying that the East End is her home for over 30 years. Designated Maidstone as her main residence. Claimed ~£100,000 pounds in overnight expenses on the basis of staying away from her main home.
- Never lived in the the Maidstone flat, this verified by the neighbours who say unequivocally the flat is unfurnished and empty.
- Her actual home is a council flat in East London with a nicely subsidised rent, (yes, we're paying for that too). Given that she's a company director of a couple of well known firms how could she possibly qualify for subsidised rent accommodation?
- Her registrations as company director are at the London address.
- Registered to vote at that address too.

I think it's clear where she lives.

Also this from the Evening Standard:

"Baroness Uddin claimed a total of £29,675 for accommodation in 2007/8, a time when the maximum daily accommodation claim was £165 a day. Her bill represents a claim at the maximum possible rate for 179 days, that's more days than the Lords sat that year.

She's a thief.

[punyXpress]

Within the Rules?
'THEY' made the furfurfur Rules! :mad:

[Sosha]

Hang on, you're entitle to a council flat if you have a home? & it's not your main residence?

Case for benefit fraud?

Easily sorted. Reassign council flat to someone who needs it.

[Quiff Wichard]

theft , embesslement. cheats . should be locked up.. I would be if I miscalimed expenses.. its theft..

they all need chucking out .. the country is a farce

[simesb]

Call me an idealist but to be elected should be a sacrifice, a service to your country. Not a businesslike means to grow rich. (, fat, and ugly in this case).

True, and it used to be that the public would vote on local as much as party politics, and politicians had made a career first. Now (with a very few exceptions) people vote on purely party politics. It's pin a red rosette on a donkey around here.

its like a bank robber getting caught after fleeing and simply saying "well heres the money, so you dont need to hold me accountable for the theft since im giving it all back"
:mad:

That was my first thought too. The problem is that most of what they've done is not illegal, just immoral.

[Luckypants]

Also this from the Evening Standard:

"Baroness Uddin claimed a total of £29,675 for accommodation in 2007/8, a time when the maximum daily accommodation claim was £165 a day. Her bill represents a claim at the maximum possible rate for 179 days, that's more days than the Lords sat that year.

She's a thief.

Based on that alone, I have to agree.

[Viney]

Burn the Witch.

I remember Squidward saying much the same to me at Shohoho a few weeks ago, and i couldnt argue one bit. One rule for them and one rule for us!

[Kuze]

Its just she knew the rules, knew she could screw the system for as much as possible and unfortunately as the rules are so pathetic she cant be brought to justice.

Like most politicians shes scum only out for herself. And i wonder why i feel like complete apathy towards politics.

Question for you, whats the difference between a politician and a thieving chav?

One wears a suit..

[Messie]

I agree Squidster but I have to say that it really makes me feel for the ,few, politicians to have tried to do it right. But as others have said; it were immoral, not illegal, at the time.

But I'm still smiling a little at my ex-county council boss and Governor at the school where I work trying, and failing, to squirm out of answering for his fiddling at Westminster magistartaes Court yesterday. Hanningfield, you will answer in Crown Court!!

[Sid Squid]

I agree Squidster but I have to say that it really makes me feel for the ,few, politicians to have tried to do it right.
I fully agree, there are plenty of MPs who claimed little or nothing.


But as others have said; it were immoral, not illegal, at the time.
In Uddin's case no, there is plenty of evidence demonstrating quite plainly that she at no time lived in the Maidstone property, she should be prosecuted - there's ample evidence of fraud. The CPS have just got this plain wrong.

See here too. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7026473.ece)

This is interesting too. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6301734.ece) Doesn't pay much rent at home, but has a nice big house abroad.

But I'm still smiling a little at my ex-county council boss and Governor at the school where I work trying, and failing, to squirm out of answering for his fiddling at Westminster magistartaes Court yesterday. Hanningfield, you will answer in Crown Court!!
Quite right too.

[Ed]

Call me an idealist but to be elected should be a sacrifice, a service to your country. Not a businesslike means to grow rich. (, fat, and ugly in this case)

Kristoff, she ain't elected!! - She's a 'Baroness' - appointed by the Labour Farty.

I agree with my Honourable friend, Lord Squid.

This woman is a thief, a cheat, and a $hit. She should be prosecuted.

[embee]

They still "don't get it".

Until the decent MPs get together and drag the scumbags out into the street and tar and feather them, then they are all blameworthy. (OK, she's not an MP, but the same principle applies).

Just who can be trusted enough to vote for? None of them.

As far as I was aware, when they submitted an expenses claim they had to sign a declaration that it was wholly and necessarily incurred in order to carry out their duties as an MP, or words to that effect. If it wasn't then it's fraud, simple.

You and I would have been sacked.

I'm loooking forward to the first canvasser knocking on my door.............:smt071

[yorkie_chris]

Kristoff, she ain't elected!! - She's a 'Baroness' - appointed by the Labour Farty.

I agree with my Honourable friend, Lord Squid.

This woman is a thief, a cheat, and a $hit. She should be prosecuted.

I know, I was meaning in general public service, bad choice of words. Same for people who work in the council or whatever.
It's not a f***ing jobs program for a bunch of workshy s***es who couldn't get a job in the real world.

My own very brief experience with local government as a youth saw a lot bummers making no contribution other than a big groupwank where they all justified their own little dominions and did bugger all else.

Personally I'd take her outside and shoot her on the general principle. But there's a good reason I'm not in charge of such things :smt081

[sauluk]

Call me an idealist but to be elected should be a sacrifice, a service to your country. Not a businesslike means to grow rich. (, fat, and ugly in this case)

Scrap the lot, build a hotel next to the house of commons. Stay in it for free whenever you need to be in that London and earn a reasonable wage and bugger all else.

Spot on. High remuneration for a politician attracts the wrong type of individual, if they truly want to serve their country and people, they'd do it for an amount that would let them lead a 'regular' lifestyle.

Anyone that can morally accept 'expenses' of that amount (paid for by those you serve) demonstrates how fickle their ethics really are and they shouldn't be allowed near a public service role.

[carternd]

I know, I was meaning in general public service, bad choice of words. Same for people who work in the council or whatever.
It's not a f***ing jobs program for a bunch of workshy s***es who couldn't get a job in the real world.

My own very brief experience with local government as a youth saw a lot bummers making no contribution other than a big groupwank where they all justified their own little dominions and did bugger all else.

Personally I'd take her outside and shoot her on the general principle. But there's a good reason I'm not in charge of such things :smt081

I wish I could work for the local bureaucracy. Even binmen do better than me! Every time an election comes up I wonder why I bother walking 1/2 mile to the village hall to vote against Oliver (pigf*****) Letwin. Not that the Lib-dem's would be much better in power but give 'em the chance, eh.

[Fizzy Fish]

I don't have words to describe how disgusting I think her behaviour is, and it's outrageous that she has got away with this.

Personally I think a lot more MPs should have been dragged through the mill over their actions, many are are cheating and immoral, and it's a total abuse of power. Anyone else would probably be in prison, and most certainly out of a job!

I do like Yorkie Chris' idea of a 'hotel' for MPs in Westminster - maybe it could be like student halls of residence LOL

[The Basket]

No Surprise

The law was always designed to protect the masters from the slaves.

[Fizzy Fish]

Does anyone else feel like going over there and egging her house? The one she does live in I mean ;)

[dizzyblonde]

Although there are people who live within the rules, and are honest, there are those who know how to work the rules, and work it to their massive thieving advantage.

I seem to recall one of the first MPs to get caught doing this, Mr Dewsbury Malik bloke. Gets caught, tries worming out of it, and proclaims on TV 'I was within the rules' well yeah I really seem to think buying plasma TVs and claiming for a room next door for your office (rented cheaper by his Landlord friend with secret handshake and a wink)...reallly cutting it fine matey!

Same for this woman, she knew exactly what she was doing, then when shes caught, cries booo hooo. But its boo hoo on us, as she managed it for years and ripped us lot off.


Wheres there a Matthew Hopkins when you need one. ;-)

[instigator]

Does anyone else feel like going over there and egging her house? The one she does live in I mean ;)

Swap eggs with molotov cocktails and then you're talking.

[Sid Squid]

No Surprise

The law was always designed to protect the masters from the slaves.
Possibly, but the law is clear and she's equally clearly in breach of it.

The question is why has she been spared from prosecution when there's ample evidence against her? Others in the same position are being prosecuted and rightly so, why has the CPS decided not to prosecute here?

I smell another, deeply unpleasant, rat. Think not so much about what she's done, (several have been as least as dishonest and thieving), but try thinking about who she is, why she has the position she holds and who put her there.

Also go and have a look at the website of the housing association where she really does live - that makes very interesting reading.

[punyXpress]

From Sid Squid: why has the CPS decided not to prosecute here?
This will come to light when she claims the ' bung ' she gave CPS on expenses.
Not surprised Michael Foot popped his clogs when he saw what was happening to a party that at least had a little honour.

[Biker Biggles]

Strange when you look back at a few really honourable Labour people.Michael Foot and Tony Benn both got sidelined to where they could do no damage,but look at John Smith and Robin Cook.They couldnt be sidelined and they both died suddenly.Theres others as well if look hard enough.