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[UncleUB]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/8068821/Expenses-scandal-three-face-suspension-from-House-of-Lords.html

Three peers investigated over their expenses claims face suspension from the House of Lords and repayment of tens of thousands of pounds,

I notice this topic won't be in next weeks spending cuts review....

The House of Lords expenses system was overhauled in June this year after the old one was discredited by a number of high-profile abuses.

Under the old rules, peers could claim £86.50 for “day subsistence” and £75 for office costs for each day they worked. Peers living outside London could also claim £174 for staying in the capital on a work night.

The new regime will allow all peers to claim a lump payment of £300 a day for “clocking in” at Parliament. Critics have claimed it could be open to abuse as it offers no safeguards against peers “signing in and sloping off”.

Under the new scheme, which is based on proposals made by the Senior Salaries Review Body last November, no receipts, or proof of a second home or hotel stay, will be required to claim the payment. The scheme is backed by the Coalition and Labour. Lord Strathclyde, the Leader of the Lords, said it would introduce “clarity and simplicity”.

Beyond Belief  

[roseway]

Baroness Uddin .... has agreed to pay back £125,000 in wrongly claimed expenses.

How on earth could somebody get away with claiming that much in expenses? It's more than most people earn in several years.

And now they can claim £300 a day, just for turning up, however briefly.

As you say Phil, it's beyond belief.

[UncleUB]

When you read those comments and then read these..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11559892

Chancellor George Osborne said welfare fraudsters were robbing taxpayers of billions of pounds a year, adding it was time to get "very, very tough".

The chancellor said cheating the benefits system was "unacceptable at the best of times and totallyimmoral" when the UK had a huge budget deficit.

Immoral !!!!........They want start looking in Westminster if they want to start using that word. 

[grumpy old man]

To my mind it's fraud.  If members of this forum committed fraud no doubt we could end up in jail, but not member of the house of lords it seems!  Why should they be treated any differently?

Lord Paul is a multi millionaire, why is he even claiming expenses.

I also think it is laughable the the civil servant looking into the second homes business, has ruled that a peer can call it a main property if the visit it just once a month!! So what is the property they live in for the rest of month classified as, their main main property?  It's unreal.

gom

[BritBrat]

Did you think getting rid of Labour it would be any different?

After all it was the Tories that invented the slease in the first place.

I take it they only get travel expences to thier main residence!!

[scottiesmum]

@  BritBrat  ......     whilst certainly not condoning 'sleaze' in any form,   .......      in fairness     two of the peers in question are Labour Peers and the third one  a Crossbencher  who has funded the Labour party   (probably very cross now that he's been found out   )   .......