On March 23rd, 2009, Alan Milburn, who, among his six jobs, has been the Labour MP for Darlington since 1992, charged the taxpayer £760 for a miscellany of household goods from John Lewis, including four Siberian Goose Feather and Down Pillows, a Jamie Oliver saute pan and a set of Nigella Lawson measuring spoons (the mind boggles!).
On June 26th, 2009, Alan Milburn MP announced to his local Labour Party that he would not be standing for Parliament at the next General Election.
This represents a cynical and shameful exploitation of the Parliamentary expenses system. Clearly Mr Milburn is out to milk the taxpayers for every penny he can wring out of us before we see the back of him. Quite why, after 17 years in Parliament, Mr Milburn suddenly decides he can't live without a set of Nigella Lawson measuring spoons is beyond me.
We also pay £600 a year so he can watch Sky TV. Never heard of a Freeview box, Alan? Or do they have Nigella repeats on Sky?
Hat tip: N MacF.
2 comments:
Perhaps you'll be getting some spoons for Christmas, Mike.
But this is not a case of personal morality. And he's not alone, I note Nick Clegg spent a few grand renovating his home... You have to ask - why are all these perks available to MPs?
Even if we get rid of the expenses scheme in parliament, we have the potential for corporate interests to influence politics through job offers, etc.
Until we have economic democracy, we cannot have political democracy.
Measuring spoons! For ten years I've been living in a house without any measuring spoons! How have we managed?
I know what Mrs Tually is getting for Christmas now. Will I be able to claim them on expences?
;)
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