Comments on: Expenses – MPs vs journalists http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:58:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: louise http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-340 louise Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:50:25 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-340 No one's saying that. What has been said (6 months ago, you're a bit late in all this) is that that kind of expense fiddling went on a lot because reporters are generally on poor salaries, although I wouldn't care to comment on Fleet St hacks' practices as I've never been a staffer there. Fry's comments were, however, wholly inaccurate and he should have known better than to say them. No one’s saying that. What has been said (6 months ago, you’re a bit late in all this) is that that kind of expense fiddling went on a lot because reporters are generally on poor salaries, although I wouldn’t care to comment on Fleet St hacks’ practices as I’ve never been a staffer there. Fry’s comments were, however, wholly inaccurate and he should have known better than to say them.

]]> By: Cynic http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-339 Cynic Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:59:57 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-339 So it is not true then that until recently reporters used to meet in El Vino on a Tuesday lunchtime to swap receipts from weekend meals with their spouse? So it is not true then that until recently reporters used to meet in El Vino on a Tuesday lunchtime to swap receipts from weekend meals with their spouse?

]]> By: From the Online » Leopards&spots? Expenses à la 1938 http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-338 From the Online » Leopards&spots? Expenses à la 1938 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:29:36 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-338 [...] (2009) Stephen Fry might possibly have alienated a few of his followers with his ‘venal and disgusting’ accusation when this whole Expenses marlarkey first started. Apparently, Fry said, journalists have their snouts as buried in the troughs as anyone. Fat chance, retorted some. [...] [...] (2009) Stephen Fry might possibly have alienated a few of his followers with his ‘venal and disgusting’ accusation when this whole Expenses marlarkey first started. Apparently, Fry said, journalists have their snouts as buried in the troughs as anyone. Fat chance, retorted some. [...]

]]> By: Richard Brennan http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-337 Richard Brennan Fri, 22 May 2009 22:40:52 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-337 Fantastic blog post. Fantastic blog post.

]]> By: @StephenFry on journalists’ own ‘venal and disgusting’ use of expenses | DAILYMAIL http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-336 @StephenFry on journalists’ own ‘venal and disgusting’ use of expenses | DAILYMAIL Wed, 13 May 2009 07:33:01 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-336 [...] Bolotin, a freelance journalist, has written a response on her blog - she says Fry has got it badly wrong. Here’s an extract: “I have news for Stephen. The [...] [...] Bolotin, a freelance journalist, has written a response on her blog – she says Fry has got it badly wrong. Here’s an extract: “I have news for Stephen. The [...]

]]> By: Tina http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-335 Tina Tue, 12 May 2009 17:17:33 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-335 I assumed he meant single rooms, as in halls of residence. Good point, but it does mean that anyone in a constituency a long distance from London may only get to see their family at the weekends. It could be argued (rightly) that many working people are in that position and they don't get special treatment, but OTOH, lmany arge companies do make sure they offer accommodation that at least allows for overnight stays by employees' families if they require those employees to work away from their main home. That isn't altruistic - it means they get to keep the best people, and I think the same approach needs to be taken to MPs. A balance needs to be struck about what is fair and reasonable for the MP and the country, otherwise you run the risk of making it even more of a rich boys' club than it already is. I assumed he meant single rooms, as in halls of residence.

Good point, but it does mean that anyone in a constituency a long distance from London may only get to see their family at the weekends. It could be argued (rightly) that many working people are in that position and they don’t get special treatment, but OTOH, lmany arge companies do make sure they offer accommodation that at least allows for overnight stays by employees’ families if they require those employees to work away from their main home. That isn’t altruistic – it means they get to keep the best people, and I think the same approach needs to be taken to MPs. A balance needs to be struck about what is fair and reasonable for the MP and the country, otherwise you run the risk of making it even more of a rich boys’ club than it already is.

]]> By: louise http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-334 louise Tue, 12 May 2009 16:07:44 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-334 Tina, I suspect that's what Matt meant. I don't think any of us would expect MPs to share boarding-school style dormitories, after all. But I don't understand your point about their families. Why should we pay for MPs to have their families with them? All MPs should have their family in their primary (constituency) home and have access to a serviced flat or something in London for parliamentary sessions, as Matt suggests. Tina, I suspect that’s what Matt meant. I don’t think any of us would expect MPs to share boarding-school style dormitories, after all. But I don’t understand your point about their families. Why should we pay for MPs to have their families with them? All MPs should have their family in their primary (constituency) home and have access to a serviced flat or something in London for parliamentary sessions, as Matt suggests.

]]> By: Twitted by whatdoyoudo http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-333 Twitted by whatdoyoudo Tue, 12 May 2009 15:47:57 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-333 [...] This post was Twitted by whatdoyoudo - Real-url.org [...] [...] This post was Twitted by whatdoyoudo – Real-url.org [...]

]]> By: Tina http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-332 Tina Tue, 12 May 2009 15:17:04 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-332 Re Matt's comment: possibly a bit much to expect MPs with families to have halls-style accomodation. However, companies often rent a block serviced apartments for their overseas employees, particularly if they've got families - can't see any reason the House of Commons couldn't do the same. Re Matt’s comment: possibly a bit much to expect MPs with families to have halls-style accomodation. However, companies often rent a block serviced apartments for their overseas employees, particularly if they’ve got families – can’t see any reason the House of Commons couldn’t do the same.

]]> By: Matt http://louisebolotin.com/2009/05/12/expenses-mps-v-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-331 Matt Tue, 12 May 2009 14:01:22 +0000 http://louisebolotin.com/?p=117#comment-331 PS. I've just re watched Stephen Fry's comments and he does admit that 'not all' journalists are as he described. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8045040.stm PS. I’ve just re watched Stephen Fry’s comments and he does admit that ‘not all’ journalists are as he described.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8045040.stm

]]>