Sunday, May 10, 2009

The True Home of Mr Margaret Moran

If you live in the East of England watch the Politics Show today and you will be treated to Luton South MP Margaret Moran defending charging the cost of her home in Southampton the the tax payer. She wails about needing a family life and having a home in Southampton because her "partner lives there" and "he has worked in the city for 20 years."

FACT

1) According to Companies House, Michael Booker (DoB 14.11.1956)
Director of - E-QUALITY NETWORKS LIMITED,
claims he lives at 1xx, Alexandra Ave., Luton on and/or since 19.10.2006)

2) See also the 192 Search results (http://www.192.com/search/search.cfm) for: Michael Booker, Luton:

Electoral Roll 2009
Full Details MICHAEL BOOKER XXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX LUTON XXX XXX
Age guide: 50-54 (?), other occupants MARGARET MORAN
---------------------------
Electoral Roll 2002 - 2008
Full Details MICHAEL BOOKER XXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX LUTON XXX XXX
Age guide: 50-54 (?), other occupants MARGARET MORAN


So, if he lives in Southampton, why would he appear on the electoral roll in Luton? No doubt purely because his partner needs his vote. And why has he given the Luton address to Companies House if it is not his main address? Ms Moran's story is unravelling by the day.

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent, Iain. Just what the doctor ordered.

But I am at a loss as to why the MSM, in particular the BBC with their massive financial muscle, has not been following up these 'explanations' by the bucket load.

You know, I know and anyone with 2 brain cells knows what's been going on.

Demetrius said...

Perhaps she should shack up with Caroline Flint, see the "Observer" today. It would be mutually convenient. Caroline could get away from the Don Valley in her breaks from Europe.

Brishank said...

Nice one. You know, it's actually as if MPs just don't get the mood of the public over the expenses scandal. They treat us like idiots, it's as though they think to themselves, 'Those tossers will get bored with this soon and it will all be back to normal.' Keep digging, Iain, you are doing a public service here.

Anonymous said...

She should do the decent thing and resign and force a by-election. If she is so convinced of her case, she should stand in that by-election. Somehow I cannot see it happening. I have been involved in politics for over 10 years. Never before have I felt so disgusted. I might as well leave politics to the self-serving and go tend to my allotment.

Al said...

Mike Booker's also on the electoral roll at his Southampton address, the only resident of the house.

Nice article in the Echo:
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/4355769.Labour_MP_claimed___22_500_for_doing_up_Southampton_home/

However, having lived just round the corner from there, I'd like to clarify that "100 yards from the waterfront" really isn't as salubrious as it sounds, and it's quite a basic Edwardian terraced neighbourhood.

Anonymous said...

Good work. This woman really is a disgrace and should have the decency to resign.

Stop Common Purpose said...

There should be some way for people to get rid of a constituency MP. Perhaps by a petition and if sufficient signatures are collected, then a constituency vote.

SteveH103 said...

After seeing Ed Milliband on the Andrew Marr show this morning its obvious that they just dont get it. He constantly said that the system was wrong and that they had to reform it and "Good old Gordon was trying to do that." Well they made up the rules themselves, they wernt just imposed on them, and anyway do the rules insist that MPs must constantly flip where their main home is? Do the rules mean that they have to do up a property at taxpayers expense then sell it at a profit, buy another and do that up as well? Does the system mean that they have to claim for an expensive barbecue because sometimes they hold official functions at their home? Does the system mean they are the only people in the country that can get away with paying Capital Gains Tax? When 1ooo`s of men and women are losing their jobs every week or having their pay cut just to keep their job, and where the ordinary man in the street knows that if they tried to claim the same as MP`s have been able to do, they would have lost their jobs at least or been prosecuted at worst, and yet still we constantly hear these thieving bastards say "its the system at fault." Well bugger the lot of them, lets hope that there is a damned good clearout at the next election which cant come soon enough.

Glyn H said...

The same distain, or even incomprehension that MPs and HMG are showing over this is the same as the contempt that we have been shown over the EU issue these last 23 years.

Dot Neck said...

How can he be on the electoral roll twice? Is this electoral fraud?

Stepney said...

Golly - I didn't know you could be on two electoral rolls at the same time. That's REALLY clever.

Guthrum said...

Southampton as a holiday home ?

Do they like sailing ?

reTired said...

So he's on the electoral roll twice. Vote early, vote often.ham1ster

Null said...

Nice bit of work there Iain. Can we expect a Vlog to killer her off?

Anonymous said...

Chipmunk did not pay capital gains tax on second home. This is an absolute scandal. She should be sacked and deselected. No mercy I am afraid. No matter how perky and cheeky she is.

She is another one peddling Labours new line that a panel of 'ordinary people' should be brought to manage these things.

Pathetic.

There may be flaws in the rules but do 'honourable members' have to take advantage of these rules?

Disgraceful.

Tony said...

So she claims for the Southampton bolt-hole because it helps her to "sustain her work" and she is angry because it is within the claims policy.

OK.

If Moran thinks she has a case, instead of spouting 'actionable' around, take it to court. Let's see all the facts come out and see just how the rules defend this behaviour.

Catosays said...

Since she intimated that such revelations were actionable, I just can't wait for her to issue writs.....as if.

Paul Halsall said...

Nick Cohen was right today to quote Macaulay's line that no spectacle is "so ridiculous as the British public in one of its periodical fits of morality".

I suppose gay people should be happy that we are no longer targets of this type of hoo-ha.

The country needs to take a librium.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to be back but looking at Guido there is a fashion spread of Caroline Flint in the Observer ! Yuk! I want to vomit !!

jon dee said...

An interesting view and suggestion from Vincent Coughlin QC in " MP's expenses; the legal view," (Timesonline).

MP's may not be doing their case any good by using " the rules" as an excuse.

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good work Iain. A shame the BBC lacks the courage, commitment, and probably the brain power to properly get to grips with this like you have done. It's still whinging about how the Telegraph got the papers. Look: that's neither here nor there, the Telegraph have done a great public service. The Beeb are a bunch of slimy pen pushers. When's someone going to give the pigs (esp. Margaret Moran) a proper roasting?

Constantly Furious said...

Superb - surely the net is closing on her now. Surely she must be the first scalp?


But, what about Ed 'Blinky' Balls and Yvette 'Mrs Balls' Cooper? Still no mentions of them? I reckon we're going to see those Balls in a vice pretty soon.

Cynic said...

"Mike Booker's also on the electoral roll at his Southampton address, the only resident of the house."

We can therefore assume that he would only vote once at any general election or European election then.

But if he lives in Southampton forcing her to go there, why does she not register in Southampton rather than Luton. And why is it necessary for us taxpayers to keep her lover / partner in a house so she can visit him? And why did she re designate that house just before it needed major repairs?

I am sure there is some completely reasonable explanation. Had there been some lovers tiff that was suddenly reconciled leading to her rushing into his passionate embrace and calling Rentokill at the same time? In some towering moment of reconciling passion when she fled south to be with him, did the bed suddenly fall through the floor because of the dry rot thereby exposing the problem just after she had re designated the house.

Cant you imagine the conversation as perhaps they sat in the debris "Why what luck Darling that you suddenly decided to redesignate. When we have suddenly found this horrendous problem that could blight our love, your Parliamentary Allowance will help. Our relationship is saved!{Cue passionate embrace}"

It all looks very odd doesn't it.

Still, perhaps after the next election the good voters of Luton will do the decent thing and put her in a position where she can move to Southampton to be with him all the time. Who know, perhaps she may even find some productive (though perhaps less lucrative) work down there commensurate with her skills.

JBW said...

Don't you just love the power of the internet!

Searching the electoral rolls is just so easy now and costs less than a tenner.

The internet seems to be something else the average politician doesn't seem to understand properly yet - although the last few weeks has, no doubt, been a huge wake up call in that regard.

I find it hard to express the depth of my anger over these thieves in parliament.

Time to borrow Madam Guillotine from the French I think.

Martin said...

The BBC are just getting more and more angry that there are hardly any Tory MPs being outed on expenses.

Moran is a total disgrace. The fact the awful Tessa Jowell couldn't condemn her says it all.

Martin said...

Sorry people, but Liebour voters will vote for dried dog poo if it had a Liebour rosette stuck to it.

If anyone thinks the Socialists of Luton would vote her out, think again.

The Scots vote Liebour time after time after time, as do the people in Luton.

Anonymous said...

A number of these MPs are also members of other professions. One does wonder if those bodies should consider investigating to see if MP X has brought the Y profession into disrepute? This could be so even if the transaction was within "the rules".There must be some doubt on that as well. There seems to be an assumption that the rules are looked at individually rather than in the context of the opening statements about the expenditure being necessary etc. If that was treated as an initial filter,it would be interesting to see how some of these claims would stand up to scrutiny.

One also wonders that that somewhat old fashioned word "contrition" has left the landscape. Have any of those reported or yet to be reported said "yes I did claim, I felt it was ok at the time but looking at it now I see it was morally wrong and I am going to repay the claim and/or pay the CGT".

Sorry for the cowardice of an anonymous posting but I work in the public sector and one fears retribution.

Anonymous said...

Why are they still in power? Because we are powerless to remove them. This is all wrong. This is what needs changing.

MPs arrogance is remarkable and exposes they have too much power. This power needs to be removed from them and given to the people.

Everyone is screaming for Labour to go, for Gordon to Go! It's falling on deaf ears. The system is all wrong! too self-serving.

They are nothing without us. We need to make a stand and get this scum out.

Held in Contempt of Parliament said...

Would this sort of thing count as "living a criminal lifestyle" for Soca purposes?

http://timworstall.com/2009/04/05/soca/

I don't agree with the law as it was applied to the McBrides in principle. But wouldn't it be entertaining to imagine the same thing happening to a few MPs? Can we strip them of their pensions, too?

Al said...

Clarification: He's appears not to be on the 2009 electoral roll (via 192.com so I'm not sure how the "edited" roll fits in here) for his Soton home, but has been there fore 2002-2008.

Make of that what you will...

manwiddicombe said...

What are the rules regarding entries on the Electoral Register?

As far as I can determine it is entirely permissible to be registered at multiple addresses provided that you only cast one vote in any given ballot. If that is correct then the Electoral Register is sadly therefore not proof of wrongdoing, merely circumstantial evidence.

Giles Marshall said...

andanotherthing and trevorsden - you have hit the nail on the head. Blears' bleating was pathetic - the 'system' is at fault. Of course. Because it would be inconceivable to expect MPs to exercise individual moral judgement about how they use the system wouldn't it?

It is a sobering thought to realise just how amoral are the individuals who govern us. No wonder they were so happy to send the armed forces to an immoral war in Iraq. But in the end we are the ones at fault for our MPs shortcomings - we send them there, time after time!

Squiffy said...

I've just seen her on The Politics Show and think that she is a disgrace. She should be deselected and thrown out of the Labour Party.

Tony said...

"If you live in the East of England watch the Politics Show today and you will be treated to Luton South MP Margaret Moran defending charging the cost of her home in Southampton the the tax payer."

And what a treat it was. Having seen her explain that things that have fallen apart need replacing, then watching her gums flapping up and down as no sound was made as she was challenged about her television.

She denied vehemently that she had changed her second home to Southampton just before claiming the £22,000. The Telegraph's lawyers will be grateful for that footage.

Then seeing her explain how she was 'required' to change the designation of her home when she became PPS (or was it whip?) so London was first and Luton was second. Then seeing her continue to refer to Southampton as her second home...

So is Southampton her second home, or Luton? Is it her 'other second' home? Or is it a third home?

Perhaps her neighbours in Southampton can be asked how often she lived there and how often her partner is there. Doubtless there are receipts for travel to Southampton because of course we will have been forced to foot the bill for the Luton Hobbit to go there, so it should be easy to check.

Unknown said...

Just saw the Moran woman on BBC. She is still utterly shameless about her troughing and the interviewer gave her a very easy ride - par for the course. The first act of the incoming Govt MUST be to purge the BBC from top to bottom - it's been a progapganda tool of the left since the advent of Thatcher and of the Govt since 1997.

As for the MPs takeing advantage of the tax-payer, their inability to see their own moral turpitude says it all. They even lack the most elementary political nous, int heir attempts ot excuse the inexcusible!

There should an allowance for the rental of a one-bed apartment for MPs whose constituencies are beyond a certain perimiter - say 50/60 miles, based on the going rate. If MPs wish to spend more on their housing, they would be free to do so - out of their own pocket.

Paul Halsall said...

Re, Peter Mandelson in Today’s Observer-

But he is correct in this article. Things will be worse for working people under a Tory government, especially one which pulls in 150 new right wing MPs.

I absolutely deplore this government’s record on civil liberties (ID cards, DNA databases, CCTV, email/webbrowsing/IM megabases, privatised prisons), and part of it’s economic policy has clearly failed. It was also far to friendly to the city and the rich. And Gordon Brown is useless as a politician.

But it is ludicrous to thing the Tories will be any better *in any of these areas*. Economic policy will be oriented to help the rich *because that is who the Tories represent and what they have always done*.

The Tories will attempt to shred the welfare state. They may go after the universality of benefits and pensions, but doing so would radically undermine the social consensus.

David Davis was brave to stand on the 42 days interment issue, but there is no evidence that the rest of his party will support that.

All my emotions are for Labour and it’s core values. I will vote Labour (Bury South is too close a constituency to justify juvenile voting). But what would probably be the best outcome would be some sort of severely hung parliament where Lib Dems would restrain Tory excess, but demand PR. PR would ensure we remain a centre-left nation for ever.

http://englisheclectic.blogspot.com/2009/05/peter-mandelson-is-right.html

PIENOMICS said...

Now that the abuses at Westminster have been revealed let's open up the can of worms in Brussels!

Anonymous said...

Utterly utterly contemptible.

Liz said...

Very nicely done, Iain. I wonder whether she'll bluster about this being 'actionable' too?

Victor, NW Kent said...

Paul Halsall

"the 42 days interment issue" - that was what happened under Callaghan. Since then people have been decently and quickly buried and I wish the same for Mandelson and every other Labour politician. To quote Mandelson's opinion on any matter of ethics is slightly ludicrous, Paul.

Put Labour out of its misery now - if it were a household pet that would already have been done as an act of kindness.

Simon Gardner said...

Dot Neck said... “How can he be on the electoral roll twice? Is this electoral fraud?”

Perfectly legit. If you live in two places (like students or MPs) you can and should be on the roll in both. You can only vote once in Euros and General Elections.

BUT you can vote in both places on the same day in local elections.

Obviously in Parliamentary elections, you ought to vote where it might make a difference and not in a safe seat - if you’ve got any sense.

Hacked Off said...

They just don't seem to realise that the cat is out of the bag, and any amount of excuses "it was within the rules / the fees office approved it" is irrelevant. The public can still tell right from wrong even after all this spin.

The Penguin

Simon Gardner said...

Not just Norman Baker.

I’ll stick my neck out and say I will be surprised if any Lib Dem MPs are caught out by this scandal - mainly because they put their house in order some years ago.

But I may be proved wrong...

Newmania said...

Yes even one took her word what special right to a family life does she have . We , like many others , juggle our children around and struggle to keep the typical two income family afloat .We snatch what family time we can.

I wish we could just stick our hands out and solve it all at soenone elses expense

Swiss Bob said...

Speaking of whom I have here on The Politics Show from the BBC this morning, it's quite horrible, much better is the post below ' favourite is 'Dwarf Fraudster Comes Clean'. The video is on YouTube for those without iplayer.

Piggie Squeals - Margaret Moran MP

Newmania said...

Simon Gardener Said -I’ll stick my neck out and say I will be surprised if any Lib Dem MPs are caught out by this scandal - mainly because they put their house in order some years ago....and also because there are hardly any of them. In the case of Norman Baker ,at vast expense to the tax payer, ( Dizzy added it up and it was a colossal bill) he conducted a fantasy investigation via Parliamentary questions in to squeeze £100,000 for one of the stupidest books ever written which he sold to the Daily Mail.. How does he have the time ? W]hat are we paying the £75k pa for if he has the time to write novels for a living . I don`t

What is his job; poor journalist over paid social worker ? Who can say , I think the theory is that its , representing this place and he has done sweet FA useful. Like most non New Lab places has been starved of investment whilst gazillions are squandered on making Cardiff a cultural centre of Europe ie . wasted . New Haven which should be a thriving Port has been allowed to sink into dilapidated poverty despite meriting n investment by any conceivable measure . That’s the problem with Liberals if you spend your vote on luxuries we all pay , by being ignored
He sees his stupid Miss Marple act to anyone who will buy his simplistic guff and makes a lovely living from exposing his fellows including Chris Huhne . He otherwise rails against pubic sector waste but was himself a member of the Beveridge group of Lib Dums who were close to Labour and socialist in outlook and spent the last ten years criticising New Labour from the left.

Good job no--one cares what they say and they never will. Simon Gardener you are half wit and I suggest you become an MP where a glib but mentally feeble salesman like Andy Burnham can screw £140 PA and the fiddles on top . There you will do well otherwise you will be unemployable…oh there is always teaching I suppose

Simon Gardner said...

Bit late to mention it now but if you get TV from satellite (free or otherwise) you can easily get other regional BBCs and most ITVs - the better to enjoy that wonderful local programming. Ahem.

Anonymous said...

Send a pig to Parliament FTAO Mr Speaker. Anything will do - picture,badge,stuffed toy, balloon.

And then - and this is the important part - send an email to the BEEB, and SKY News and the Telegraph (why not - I hate the hoons and after the stunt they played on Guido I wrote and told them I would break the habit of 55 years and stop buying, and I did - but they have gone some way to redeeming themselves now) Stress again THIS IS IMPORTANT because we don't know the extent of the success of OH's "Send-a-shirt-to-Gordon" because obviously the Stasi are not going to admit either that it is going on, or the size of it. So we need a mechanism of information disemination that the MSM can't ignore - and lots and lots of us to do it of course.

Mirtha Tidville said...

Paul Halsall says: But what would probably be the best outcome would be some sort of severely hung parliament where Lib Dems would restrain Tory excess, but demand PR. PR would ensure we remain a centre-left nation for ever.

Thats the best reason yet for not ever never having PR...

Dot Neck said...

If you can be on the electoral roll in two locations but can only vote once how is this checked? Could you get a polling card in each place and vote twice without it being cross-referenced?

If you can vote twice in local elections because you have a second home this doesn't seem fair. Also most MP's could vote for their party twice!

Anonymous said...

A small tax comment on "necessary" claims - not a chance in hell in the real world EIM31646 on the HMRC site sums it up - This approach has been followed by the Courts in several cases. For example in Elderkin v Hindmarsh (60TC651), dealing with the accommodation expenses of a site based employee, Vinelott J. quoted from Viscount Cave on page 134 of Ricketts v Colquhoun (10TC118) to the effect that if a man:

"elects to live away from his work so that he must find board and lodging away from home, that is by his own choice, and not by reason of any necessity arising out of his employment."

Anonymous said...

To paraphrase a certain previous member of parliament;

They are casting their problems on "the system" and who is "the system"? There is no such thing! There are individual members of parliament and no expense system can do anything except through politicians and politicians look to themselves first.

Rocket_88 said...

What pleases me most about your revelations is that you simultaneously proved to these abusers of civil liberties just how little privacy will obtain in our database state.

Anonymous said...

Moran is arguing that MP's should have a third home (paid for by the taxpayer) away from London or the constituency where they can have a family life with their partners.
That's as well as a holiday home in Spain.

Anonymous said...

How long does she spend in Southampton and how long does she spend in Luton?

Norm said...

Excellent post re: "The system"

I watched the national part of the politics show and her excuse was that she has to have some sort of family life.
Well, if her family wants to live somewhere not the consituency or london, how about she pay for it? why us? .. or how about her husband pay given he is apparently down there on work.

It was quite unbelieveable watching her say she was doing nothing wrong and could in no way see that it blatantly was.

WobblyJim said...

There must be a clear reason why UK law does not seem to be applicable to any one of these thieves. It's "rules" that they quote, as if the "Rules" somehow usurp the laws of the land. Why doesn't the fraud act apply here ? Internal "Rules" are subservient to LAW.
If "Rules" apply then I must write a few down for myself and show these to the authorities the next time I have any 'splainin' to do, what chance would I stand eh?
If it walks like a thief, talks like a thief then it aint a fookin duck is it ?

Anonymous said...

Quite agree with Norn, 5.17pm - why can't her husband/partner fund the Southampton home if they want a property there? Or perhaps someone else lives there?

EnCrYpTeD said...

Works in Southampton for a company who's registered address and contact address is 1 Mullion Close, LUTON.

Looking at eQuality Networks website, it mentions nothing about work done in Southampton, but plenty about the work the company does in Luton.

How stupid does this woman think her constituents are? I long to see the actionable parts reach court. Something that I shall not be holding my breath for.

Mirtha Tidville said...

Just a thought, quite a few of these MP`s have expressed a desire to take legal action against the Telegraph, is this claimable on their expenses or would they have to apply for legal aid anyone know?

Anonymous said...

This woman, like most of her colleagues, is beneath contempt. I look after a spouse with a terminal illnes and we are being taxed into poverty by these criminals. She needs a family life does she? So do those of us who have no trough to pig-in to when we need the real necessities of life.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Swiss Bob for the link to Moran's pathetic squealing as she is hoisted from the trough. What a disgisting odious, vile, contemptible woman. Yep, Nu-Labour through and through.

I hope acton IS taken and she is sent down for fraud.

Constantly Furious said...

This is ridiculous. Some of these thieves are putting Our Money, Down Our Toilets. Bring on the court cases, bring on a General Election.

Simon Gardner said...

@ Dot Neck AFAIK there are no cross-checks done on voting in different places. Voting is organised completely locally.

Legally voting in two places in local elections (if you live in two places) has been the law for as long as I can remember. Generations of students have done it (when they can be arsed to vote, that is).

Much effort goes into persuading students to vote where it might matter in General elections and not where they happen to be. cf ERS & Make Votes Count

Flemingcrag said...

One thing I have been mulling over about the dry rot claim of Margarte Moran is why was the claim
made on Common's expenses, what became of her building insurance?
I live in an old cottage built circa 1833, romantic but costly to live in, in terms of repairs and renovations. I have had to deal with the dreaded dry/wet rot problem and turned to my building insurance company for help. They are vigilant about checking if your neglect of proper care and maintenance has wholly or partly contributed to the problem.
In my case I came to an agreement that saw me able to claim 50% of the costs through my Insurer.
Why do I mention this? I am really not sure, I mean there can be no suggestion that an Honourable Member of Parliament claimed two parties for the same bill...can there????

Anonymous said...

thats great 192 you rock guys another story on 192 you can find out who the person lives with if your going on blind date so if he is married or not.

Unknown said...

Funnily enough, "EQuality Networks" is responsible for a government-funded website called Womenspeak which was an initiative brought about by one Margaret Moran MP...

Steph said...

I can not believe that MP's have got away with these kind of expense claims for so long. This has to be considered theft from the public purse, and as such they should be prosectuted, and made to resign or be sacked from public office. I will never vote for a main party again, I am sure the green party or even the BNP are a safer option.

Unknown said...

've been doing some further research on Ms Moran, which has turned up something of interest.

According to:

http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-violence-articles.asp?section=00010001002200390001&itemid=1200

Margaret Moran was the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic Violence. This group commissioned a website by the name of "Womenspeak".

This website was designed and built by a company called "EQuality Networks" Ltd, registered at 1 Mullion Close, Luton

http://www.equalitynetworks.org.uk/index.php/projects/womenspeak/

In a seemingly bizarre coincidence, it transpires that Margaret Moran is listed as "Patron" of this company and her partner, Mick Booker, is registered as a director.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Moran#Outside_Parliament

(interesting to note that this is not mentioned in her Register of Members' Interests)


He has also registered his address with companies house at Maragret Moran's Luton home.

(see http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2009/05/true-home-of-mr-margaret-moran.html)

Now this raises some interesting questions

1. How did EQuality Networks get the contract for this website?
2. Did Margaret Moran declare her interest in this company before the contract was awarded?
3. How much did EQuality Netwroks get paid for this work?

Anonymous said...

Labour will lose the next election because the thieves that pass as politicians will only half heartedly contest their seats. They want to lose. Their awful reputations, failing NHS, failing schools, rising unemployment, rising violent crime; well they have no answers. So they feather their nests then hope to get pensions and lump sums when they fail to get re elected. A far better option. Brown should tell them that if they dont win, they dont get the pensions and lump sums, this may concentrate their minds, assuming they can stop thinking about their next handout.