Perhaps more interesting are the results on what people think of MPs and the way they use their expenses...
More than two-thirds of voters think that all or a majority of MPs abuse their expenses and allowances. Some 27 per cent say all or nearly MPs and 42 per cent think that a majority of MPs, abuse the system. By contrast, 20 per cent say “a majority of MPs do not abuse the system, but many do”, while just 8 per cent say very few MPs do. Working class voters and Tory supporters, are most inclined to say that most MPs abuse the system. Professionals and managers are most sympathetic to MPs over their allowances.
I don't think this comes as much of a surprise. It would have been interesting to see the comparative figures a year ago. I wonder how different they would have been.
I'm sure the folk at PB.com will have much fun with this poll.
ReplyDeleteThe Brown bouncelet has been totally over-egged by the MSM - Joe Public have no idea (including me) what concrete decisions were made for £20m.
More Nokias for Mr Brown me thinks
I bet this has wiped the arrogant forced smile off the smug face of Gordon the Clown
ReplyDeleteThe event that I want to see most, that will wipe the smile off his face, is when he shuffles his fat arse out of Downing Street for the last time having been booted by the electorate.......bring it on...
ReplyDeleteI doubt there is a bounce, and the continuing MP's expenses scandal, although probably all parties are involved, is certainly sickening people and will hit the government more.
ReplyDeleteStill, there will be a tightening during an election, and a Tory victory, while looking likely, is not guaranteed.
The only Bounce Labour and Brown will get is as the coffin in the hurse hits pot holes Labour have failed to fill as the Coffin is travelling to the burial ground where the electorate will shovel Tories on the Labour coffin and Labour will be extinct - No more!
ReplyDeleteCameron should have his own policy on expenses and he should promote it as his own policy to regain voters confidence.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest -
It is logical that MPs who live outside commuting distance need a second home.
I think that they could be provided with an unfurnished apartment for their use while they are an MP. When they resign the apartment would simply be passed on to the new MP.
Other than that they would just receive a salary and no other expenses.
The piano wire and lamp post making companies must be making record profits at this rate.
ReplyDeleteian i love you blog i dont always agree but you is match fit from a fellow west ham fan
ReplyDeleteInteresting piece by Jackie Ashley in today’s [6-4-09] Grauniad saying that some of the MP’s expenses stuff to come is so bad there will be resignations and by-elections!!!
ReplyDeleteShe adds that the post 1997 intake have been most brazen.
These polls are all very well but it is not how people are actually voting. I have been logging the results of the local By-Elections since the start of the year. My calculations are much different than those of the pollsters. The Victor Meldrew's Brother poll shows that the public have different ideas. The Tories are not that far ahead because the Labour heartlands are still voting in droves for their pay/benefit packet.The big factor is the vote that the BNP is gaining. That is being denied by the mainstream media but according to the voters whenever the BNP field a candidate then they are getting the votes.
ReplyDeleteIf true, predictions of a UKIP meltdown and BNP surge in the Euros may actually happen.
ReplyDeleteOn planet Conand we're all dancing little jigs and burning effigies of Brown. Weeeeee
ReplyDeleteThe funniest part is the ongoing downward trend for the LibDims in the polls. Hopefully that will translate solidly into even more seat loses at future elections.
ReplyDeleteThere is huge mileage for Cameron in the expenses sleaze.
ReplyDeleteForget committees and consultations - the Green Book is simply a charter for the greedy.
Capped expenses for overnights in London (receipts needed) and a purge of allowances - with a total ban on using them for party political rather than constituency purposes.
The same rules as for civil servants should apply.
And he should promise to claw back these second home scams as per Smith, Becket, Darling, Balls, Cooper et al.
Brown could have done something about it but didn't so deserves the no G20 bounce.
cherami said... “There is huge mileage for Cameron in the expenses sleaze.”
ReplyDeleteOr probably not.
The chances are the problem faces large numbers of Tory MPs - despite the fact that the press attacks so far have been on Labour. (And none at all on Lib Dem AFAIK?)