[Politics] Lord Bassam of Brighton

[bha100]

Got to admire him, story in the press today where he has allegedly been receiving an allowance of just over 36k which is for accommodation when staying away from his main residence but has instead been travelling back to Brighton and claiming over 6k for his travel, he said he had done nothing wrong.

 

[clippedgull]

They all have their snouts in the trough.

as one commenter said...

It's a an upmarket version of benefits fraud, without the brutal punishments...

 

[Titanic]

Presumably he's a Tory?

 

[timbha]

Got to admire him, story in the press today where he has allegedly been receiving an allowance of just over 36k which is for accommodation when staying away from his main residence but has instead been travelling back to Brighton and claiming over 6k for his travel, he said he had done nothing wrong.

Yep, a true socialist (when it suits him)

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I saw him at the Arsenal away game and I believed he played his part via goverment in getting the Amex. Although I am not a fan of the Lords, from experience I know he plays a huge role (works full time) in running the oposition benches and the important role in amneding bills that becomes law. It would appear that in this elevated position he was paid expenses that he was not entilied too automatically. Hence he has said he would repay them.

Goverments are expensive (even unelected ones) and until ours leave the current old parliment buildings and ways, and become more modern and accontable, these stories will continue to arise.

 

[The Merry Prankster]

Sits behind me at the Amex.

 

[soistes]

Presumably he's a Tory?

Well, sort of. He's New Labour, and was responsible for driving out the left from Brighton Labour Party in the 80s, when he was leader of Brighton Council.
I understand he's also, for what it's worth, quite a keen Albion fan - saw him at the recent Swansea away match, for example.
Maybe he's on a scam for his loyalty points too...

 

[vegster]

Got to admire him, story in the press today where he has allegedly been receiving an allowance of just over 36k which is for accommodation when staying away from his main residence but has instead been travelling back to Brighton and claiming over 6k for his travel, he said he had done nothing wrong.

They all take the piss, Ian Duncan Smith tried to clam £39 for a breakfast once and today Nigel Farage said he would happily accept his MEP's Pension from the EU.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Got to admire him, story in the press today where he has allegedly been receiving an allowance of just over 36k which is for accommodation when staying away from his main residence but has instead been travelling back to Brighton and claiming over 6k for his travel, he said he had done nothing wrong.

Give the man a break. He's only been doing it since 2010 and has today confirmed he will not be submitting such claims again.

 

[The Clamp]

Got to admire him, story in the press today where he has allegedly been receiving an allowance of just over 36k which is for accommodation when staying away from his main residence but has instead been travelling back to Brighton and claiming over 6k for his travel, he said he had done nothing wrong.

Admire him? No.

 

[bha100]

Admire him? No.

For an enterprising expenses claim he gets a 10

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Sits behind me at the Amex.

You're lucky. I've got a recently-deposed local Tory MP in the same row as me.









(seems a decent enough bloke to be fair)

 

[Saltydog]

Why are expenses not paid against submitted receipts only. If he chose to commute to his real home then I would suggest that he is not entitled to £36k rent p/a for an imaginary property. Not sure that this hard to understand for a professional person regardless of whether it is considered a "perk" of the role.

Interesting to see that he is willing to pay back the lower costs of travelling to and from London but not the higher amount for the non existent grace and favour second home.

 

[bha100]

You're lucky. I've got a recently-deposed local Tory MP in the same row as me.









(seems a decent enough bloke to be fair)

Is that Simon?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

You're lucky. I've got a recently-deposed local Tory MP in the same row as me.






(seems a decent enough bloke to be fair)

I’ve got Ivor Caplin and slum-landlords. Caplin seems a decent, and very critical of referees, gent.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Is that Simon?

Yup. Thought last season he might have just been doing it to ingratiate himself to the electorate. But still takes up his seat in the North on a regular basis, and usually brings his lad along. Fair play to the bloke.

 

[The Large One]

Got to admire him, story in the press today where he has allegedly been receiving an allowance of just over 36k which is for accommodation when staying away from his main residence but has instead been travelling back to Brighton and claiming over 6k for his travel, he said he had done nothing wrong.

His season ticket(s) would be £6,000 (or whatever a Brighton to London season ticket is - suspect that figure has been rounded up) no matter how many times he stayed in London or came back to Brighton. Also suspect that figure may well include taxis to and from Brighton Station late at night and so on.

Not sure where he lives now, but he did previously live in Eastern Road.

As for the £36,000 allowance on accommodation, that would include rent on a London flat, plus hotels etc when away on Parliamentary business. It amounts to an average £690 a week - the going rate for reasonable accommodation in central London, I'd guess. Whether it should be that much is another issue, as is the point that MPs can claim travel and accommodation expenses when travelling to and from work where the majority of the rest of us can't.

He is, incidentally, the Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords.

 

[mona]

One of several people who made the Amex possible. Great man.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

His season ticket(s) would be £6,000 (or whatever a Brighton to London season ticket is - suspect that figure has been rounded up) no matter how many times he stayed in London or came back to Brighton. Also suspect that figure may well include taxis to and from Brighton Station late at night and so on.

Not sure where he lives now, but he did previously live in Eastern Road.

As for the £36,000 allowance on accommodation, that would include rent on a London flat, plus hotels etc when away on Parliamentary business. It amounts to an average £690 a week - the going rate for reasonable accommodation in central London, I'd guess. Whether it should be that much is another issue, as is the point that MPs can claim travel and accommodation expenses when travelling to and from work where the majority of the rest of us can't.

He is, incidentally, the Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords.

Sorry Al, impossible to ascertain from your post whether you're for/against/fence-sitting on the claims Lord Bassam has been making since 2010. And we all know he's Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords. As if that had anything to do with anything.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I’ve got Ivor Caplin and slum-landlords. Caplin seems a decent, and very critical of referees, gent.

Played cricket with Ivor for many years for patcham and in the various leagues. Good friend.