MP James Gray doesn’t want to travel on standard ticket (From Swindon Advertiser)
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MP James Gray doesn’t want to travel on standard ticket
6:10pm Friday 12th March 2010 in
North Wiltshire MP James Gray has joined dozens of fellow MPs requesting the right to first-class train travel.
Nearly 50 MPs have written to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which is drawing up a new system of allowances to replace the controversial expenses system.
In his letter, Mr Gray argues that first-class rail tickets are essential in order to work while travelling between Westminster and the constituency.
But this week Mr Gray was reluctant to speak about the subject and was shocked that his letter had been made public.
He said: “I don’t think how MPs travel on trains is a particularly important issue and I don’t want to comment until the IPSA has published its report.”
In the letter he was much more forthcoming and said: “Majors in the Army and similar people in the civil service travel first class and it seems to me to be a reasonable expectation that, after 13 years of doing so, I should be allowed to continue.”
The letters come after outspoken Tory MP Sir Nicholas Winterton claimed MPs would not be able to get enough work done in standard class because of the disturbance from children.
He pointed out that it was in the interests of taxpayers for MPs to work efficiently while travelling between their constituencies and Westminster.
A first-class return ticket from Chippenham to London Paddington booked a week in advance costs £118 off peak and £203 for anytime.
A standard ticket off peak return is £44.80 with an anytime return costing £133.
Bob Lee from the West Wiltshire Rail Users Group thought MPs should be able to work in economy class. He said: “If first class is being paid for then that at least supports the railways.
“But personally I think they should join the rest of us in standard class.
“They would get to know how things were for the majority of people who travel by train.”
Derek Cunstance, a member of the Armed Forces Pensions Group, said: “These appalling jobsworths have sat in judgement on their own pay, pensions and expenses and, boy, how they have milked the gravy train for all its worth.
“The system must be subject to root and branch surgery.”
Comments(30)
Bobfm
says...
6:56pm Fri 12 Mar 10
They will of course deny first class. Given politicians obfuscation in the last 12 months do we believe them.
osceola
says...
7:16pm Fri 12 Mar 10
trustnopolitician
says...
7:25pm Fri 12 Mar 10
Isn't this the real problem that too many big egos think they are the cats whiskers and shouldn't have to mix with the great unwashed.
Do away with first class for all persons who charge the first class fare to the taxpayer.- there are few MP's who are first class and if they mixed with ordinary people they might understand their problems, aspirations, and the sheer exhaustion in working to ensure the "ruling class" keep their comforts.
Captain T
says...
7:36pm Fri 12 Mar 10
Gray and all these other MP's can **** well travel standard class like the rest of us have to and like it.
lowbrim
says...
10:20pm Fri 12 Mar 10
Travelling like the majority of there constituents travel and maybe talking to them during the journey would be far better use of time than sitting in first clas, on there own, working out how to fiddle there employers in standard class by creative accounting on their expenses.
Concerned of Wiltshire
says...
10:36pm Fri 12 Mar 10
This is just the sort of information that makes voters despair about the 'mainstream' parties.
Gooey
says...
11:52pm Fri 12 Mar 10
instead we have a rip off overcrowded pile of stinking ****.
make the **** sit on the roof!
umpcah
says...
7:46am Sat 13 Mar 10
Bobfm
says...
12:54pm Sat 13 Mar 10
The book is quite staggering, naming names as to who tried to do what to cover this whole scandal up many of these people are to stand for election again. This book has certainly opened my eyes as to how they are not sorry at all, and believe because they were ordered to hand money back, that makes it alright. but it doesn't the enquiry cost more than will eventually be recovered so the public have still been shafted.
The books available via the Bruges Group email:
info@brugesgroup.com
Ankh
says...
1:50pm Sat 13 Mar 10
mojothecat
says...
4:30pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Casual Observer
says...
6:07pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Two words; Nigel Farage
Bobfm
says...
7:17am Sun 14 Mar 10
had you done so you would realise the average claim per year by the LibLabCon MEP's and for that matter the majority of other MEP's (excluding UKIP) was £357k.
Nigel Claimed £2million over 10 years, which is £200k. This figure represents the minimum. The point about the EU is that these are allowances that are paid regardless of whether you want (£130k) and then the salary. They cannot be refused or given to charity unless approved by the EU.
Nigel is also Head of the EFD formally IndDem, group which again provides him with allowances over and above the normal MEP and yet it can be seen that he is way below the others. Nice try but 0 out of 10 for effort.
Billy Jo
says...
2:09pm Sun 14 Mar 10
Bobfm wrote:£200k per annum for expenses??
CO you really should do your homework rather than rely on the Politically biased media. had you done so you would realise the average claim per year by the LibLabCon MEP's and for that matter the majority of other MEP's (excluding UKIP) was £357k. Nigel Claimed £2million over 10 years, which is £200k. This figure represents the minimum. The point about the EU is that these are allowances that are paid regardless of whether you want (£130k) and then the salary. They cannot be refused or given to charity unless approved by the EU. Nigel is also Head of the EFD formally IndDem, group which again provides him with allowances over and above the normal MEP and yet it can be seen that he is way below the others. Nice try but 0 out of 10 for effort.
Not allowed to donate to charity or refuse to accept the money??
Here's a piece of advice for Nigel and any other MEP hypocrite.
IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH SUCH VAST SOMES BEING FORCED ON YOU THEN QUIT!
I truly hate liars and cheats but hypocrites really do make my blood boil.
Bobfm
says...
7:43pm Sun 14 Mar 10
The rest of your post is pure rant, indicating you had no idea of the context of the post. Now there's a change. £130k is allowances, and almost £70k is exactly the same wage as our MP's.
As for the charity I suggest you research the EU.
Billy Jo
says...
9:17pm Sun 14 Mar 10
Bobfm wrote:You truly are as obnoxious and rude as other posters here allude to.
Billy Jo, what a bizarre post. CO was alluding to Nigel Farage being on the gravy train. I merely pointed out compared with other's he doesn't even come close. The rest of your post is pure rant, indicating you had no idea of the context of the post. Now there's a change. £130k is allowances, and almost £70k is exactly the same wage as our MP's. As for the charity I suggest you research the EU.
There is nothing "bizarre" in my post.
You are trying to paint Mr. Farage as some kind of knight in shining armour which he clearly is not. Is one man who steals a loaf of bread any better or worse than a man who steals three?
If you and your "party" were so concerned with withdrawing from the EU then why do you stand for seats? Surely focus on winning seats to our parliament and then effect change from there.
Having YOUKIP members feeding at the EU trough DOES smack of hypocrisy and until you have the decency to offer up a credible rebuttal then I will offer up the respect for you that is deserved.
As for me needing to research specific subjects I would suggest you try honesty,integrity and straightfowardness.
Three subjects of which your party seem to be lacking a basic knowledge of.
itsamess
says...
9:40pm Sun 14 Mar 10
Bobfm
says...
7:50am Mon 15 Mar 10
As for the money, most of our MEP's contribute thousands from their salaries to do exactly what you claim we should be doing, getting MP's in the UK. We do not have big business or the unions sponsoring us. We do not have the benefit of massive free advertising in the way of television programmes, which are nothing more than the promotion of the main parties.
They even give disproportionate amount of time to the Greens, because the thought of a party like UKIP getting a lot of MP's frightens the establishment to death.
So when you seek to knock UKIP please do it in the context of the massive corruption within the main political parties, and the political system.
Britain needs a change, but not one to a US style personality above policy approach. Who gives a t*ss about the leaders wives. If the politicians themselves can't win on policy then they should go.
Billy Jo
says...
8:19am Mon 15 Mar 10
Bobfm wrote:Most MEP's but not all. No party policy there then.
Billt JO, the reason UKIP are in the Parliament is to try and influence policies which affect Britain, and to forewarn Britain what is coming. No other British party wants you to know what they are cooking up for us. As for the money, most of our MEP's contribute thousands from their salaries to do exactly what you claim we should be doing, getting MP's in the UK. We do not have big business or the unions sponsoring us. We do not have the benefit of massive free advertising in the way of television programmes, which are nothing more than the promotion of the main parties. They even give disproportionate amount of time to the Greens, because the thought of a party like UKIP getting a lot of MP's frightens the establishment to death. So when you seek to knock UKIP please do it in the context of the massive corruption within the main political parties, and the political system. Britain needs a change, but not one to a US style personality above policy approach. Who gives a t*ss about the leaders wives. If the politicians themselves can't win on policy then they should go.
Maybe there will be some modicum of fear when and if your party ever do get an MP elected on your mandate rather than have the odd defector. But unless your lot do something about lack of policy and shed the fringe tag that is not going to happen.
I do not seek to knock UKIP. There is corruption in every political system,small or large,local,national or international. You seem to have above average intelligence so I would assume that you are able to take the party blinkers off and accept there have been,are going to be and probably are a few present members who succumb to temptation. Whether it be a complete act of fraud or a dipping the toe into the grey waters of expenses it will happen.
Is it your partys policy to refuse large donations from Unions or big business or is it that your policies do not attract them?
Not too sure how your last comment is relevant to the thread, but the pushing of the spouse to highlight family values is not necessarily wrong. I for one appreciate the need to promote family values and clearly that should start at the top.
politicrat
says...
9:32am Mon 15 Mar 10
I am sorry to say but I wouldnt mind giving them all the above if they were doing an excellent job and representing their voters, but as fas as I am concerned they DO NOT DESERVE all these perks, they are already rich by birth/profession so why should we the common people fill their pockets and ego even more?!?!? when we struggle to fill up at the petrol station or with the tesco, asda shopping
ALL MPS are a DISGRACE!
Bobfm
says...
1:14pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Almost on a weekly basis now one of the LibLabCon produces a carbon copy of one of our policies. We must be doing something right.
As for wives, family values are of course important but rolling out the politicians wives isn't. It is what the policies say about supporting families that matters.
Billy Jo
says...
3:23pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Bobfm wrote:So no real answers to my previous post then. No surprise there.
Policy should be paramount our policies have a lot of support and are very much what the people of this country seem to want from the main parties. Almost on a weekly basis now one of the LibLabCon produces a carbon copy of one of our policies. We must be doing something right. As for wives, family values are of course important but rolling out the politicians wives isn't. It is what the policies say about supporting families that matters.
As for a weekly theft of UKIP policy by one of the main three: exactly how many policies do you have to facilitate these heinous crimes?
If your party is indeed the phoenix rising from the ashes of our political landscape,clutching a raft of new revolutionary ideas, why do you still not have any elected members of parliament? If UKIP's radical new plans to re-shape our lives are that wonderful why is Mr. Farage not holding the keys to number 10?
I am afraid that until your party steps away from the bullying and scaremongering one trick pony routine a fringe you will remain.
Bobfm
says...
8:29pm Mon 15 Mar 10
UKIP's policies are their for people to read, you have actually never said what you disagree with. Perhaps you could enlighten other posters.
ukip.org and click on policies for those who wish to read them.
itsamess
says...
9:42pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Billy Jo
says...
8:58am Tue 16 Mar 10
Bobfm wrote:The question was clear,unlike the policies on the ukip.org site.
Sorry Billy Jo I must have missed the question. Perhaps you could enlighten me. UKIP's policies are their for people to read, you have actually never said what you disagree with. Perhaps you could enlighten other posters. ukip.org and click on policies for those who wish to read them.
It is true to say you have the odd policy on the site but what is not clear is how you intend to pay for all the wonderful ideas. It is easy for anyone to say what needs to be done. The real trick is working out how it's going to be done. Something that your website fails to do.
Shame really.
Bobfm
says...
9:38am Tue 16 Mar 10
Billy Jo. The policies are costed, if you actually read rather than scan.
Billy Jo
says...
7:12pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Bobfm wrote:They may be costed but from what I can see through reading them (NOT scanning!) they simply do not add up. Yes the policies on tax reduction and improved conditions for pensions looks wonderful. But your site does actually say that public spending will fall by many billions to pay for this. Which will result in a loss of jobs and therefore a fall in tax revenue. And the circle begins.
itsamess, please check back as to who actually started the posts down this route. CO I think, taken up by Billy Jo. Billy Jo. The policies are costed, if you actually read rather than scan.
And please do not get me started on YOUKIP's plans for education and the NHS.
If I were you I would stop advising people to check out ukip.org. I did and I truly did not see anything that impressed me.
Nostim
says...
2:27pm Fri 19 Mar 10
you poor B****rd
Kineasy
says...
3:26pm Fri 19 Mar 10
My problem is that I now have a much reduced choice in using my vote. Minority group candidates, with no previous experience and often dodgy policies.
But vote I will. A small gesture to rid our country of these greedy, lieing parasites.
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I Too says...
6:22pm Fri 12 Mar 10
How do these "people" justify there work, on a train, to be more worthwhile than anybody elses?
I wish the entire country would go on strike for a day, to remind these "people" who provides their wages.