One law for a Lord, another for the rest of us.

[Nottseagull]

Lord Hanningfield Jailed For Expenses Fraud - Yahoo! News

BBC News - Skydiving Rhondda benefit cheat gets suspended sentence

Both falsely claimed several thousand pounds from the public purse; the Lord is rightly jailed for nine months yet the commoner just gets a 12 week bender. Oh, and has to do some work for a change.

Your comments, please.

 

[Surrey_Albion]

Not what I thought from the title Like most I was expecting the opposite, Yeah shouldve banged both of up but thats the world we live in unfortunatly, Make an example of one and dont be seen to picking on the social misfit, sad world but typical no justice anywhere

 

[ATFC Seagull]

Without defending benefit fraud, it seems that there are a few ins and outs to the woman's case, whereas the peer admitted just deliberately defrauding the public.

 

[ferring seagull]

Whilst having no sympathy for the 'Lord' I feel that this is perhaps the sort of case where the sentence could have been optional, ie either banged up OR a really punitive fine which would, of course, do something for the public purse whilst relieving pressure on the prison system , and, saving the taxpayer of the cost of banging up said 'Lord' for however long.

PS - I do mean really, seriously punitive !

 

[Bulldog]

I agree with the premis i assume you are making, that the law must be blind and no one should be in fear or favour because of who they are. But if you accept the roll of Lord of the realm you really do need to lead a life that is an example to others, not see it as a way of getting away with fraud.
How will we ever be able to expect people on the bread line to be honest and above board when we have people at the very top of society that think the rules only apply to the lower orders.
i am not sure that i agree with the vast disparity of sentences but the top must be spotless or we may as well give up asking the rest of us to be honest.