There was a strange bout of radio silence today on the usual assortment of Lib Dem blogsites (Black, Freedom Central, et al) over claims in the Sunday Telegraph that party officials had tutored their MPs in how to systematically exploit taxpayer-funded expenses.According to the paper, internal party documents show Lib Dem MPs being told how they could get the taxpayer to fund "material that does not meet [parliamentary] guidelines". In addition, MPs appear to have been schooled in the use of "grey areas" to get questionable spending through and advised: "There is lots of scope... so be imaginative!"
The document also advises MPs that they should "spend up to the limit" and "should be making full use" of the various allowances. It points out that the total available for staffing, communications and "incidental expenses" added together is as much as £125,000 and advises MPs to "vire" or transfer money between the categories for maximum impact.
A Lib Dem spokesman said the party's "best practice" manual had now been superseded and was "commenting on a system that no longer exists". He added: "Everything in these documents is designed to make sure that MPs follow the rules and is about helping MPs communicate more effectively within the rules."
So that's alright then, isn't it?
3 Comments:
An institutionalised rip-off by whiter than white Lib Dems who prove to be as moral as the organised gangs who clone credit cards and fiddle cash machines.
So Clegg and his gang are no different from the rest of them. But are we supposed to be shocked or even surprised? The only difference is that the Lib Dems go over the top as usual and produce a manual - which makes them bent and stupid.
Same old, same old from the Fib Dems. Preach one thing and practice another.
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