tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post2954520868092402492..comments2023-10-28T19:42:01.039+01:00Comments on Going fast, getting nowhere: Cheater Chaytor Goes DaaaaahnRichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-26746840537798598382011-01-09T17:40:16.092+00:002011-01-09T17:40:16.092+00:00Good point. If you regard all money as a resource...Good point. If you regard all money as a resource of the state, to dispense as it sees fit (which is only a more extreme version of Labour philosophy), then dispensing it to yourself for doing a bloody good job is quite natural.<br /><br />It's only those who have grafted for every penny that have respect for what other people have grafted for.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-57457058591725885112011-01-09T15:54:43.667+00:002011-01-09T15:54:43.667+00:00Fiddling expenses came naturally to the Labour MPs...Fiddling expenses came naturally to the Labour MPs. After all, their political philosophy is to take money from the public and spend it how they see fit.patentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00602962323262055007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-40729169281977985432011-01-07T23:26:01.851+00:002011-01-07T23:26:01.851+00:00Sally Ann Bowman/Mark Dixie.Sally Ann Bowman/Mark Dixie.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-49130546214567128062011-01-07T23:20:00.532+00:002011-01-07T23:20:00.532+00:00Agreed, it's quite a good result, all in all. ...Agreed, it's quite a good result, all in all. The 18 months is in line with the sentencing guidelines, and the man has been publicly shamed. That's all I would ask ... oh, and the 20 grand back, please.<br /><br />Devine is a different matter. The C4 interview showed him to be way out of his depth (and I think Gurumurthy did a great job on him) and backed into a corner. But he as much as confessed on air, and how he will plead innocence or ignorance in court will be a popcorn moment. I believe that "a big boy did it and ran away" is not an accepted defence in the British legal system.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-73294768668230837572011-01-07T22:41:17.532+00:002011-01-07T22:41:17.532+00:00I was particularly impressed that the judge made a...I was particularly impressed that the judge made a point of sentencing him more sternly because of the breach of trust involved, and to take into account any future consequences of that tarnishing the relationship between MPs and electorate. For once, a justice who gets the picture.<br /><br />Aitken was quite good value - they had him on Channel 4 News as well. His advice was, basically, go into general population and be humble about it. Apparently what he did himself, rather than take the softer option of being treated as a vulnerable prisoner.<br /><br />Either way it doesn't sound like Wandsworth is going to be a barrel of laughs for him. Bet he was hoping for a soft option like Ford when he chose to plead guilty.<br /><br />I await with interest what will happen to those who refused the chance to admit it was a fair cop with some dignity intact - Devine in particular. His interview was a bit like the chap a few years back (name escapes me) whose defense was: I didn't knife her, she was already dead when I raped her...there's no good way to come out of that particular corner.endemoniada_88https://www.blogger.com/profile/13636529919686267714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-18164420084888968862011-01-07T22:18:21.559+00:002011-01-07T22:18:21.559+00:00Yes, that's a classic of its kind. Rough tran...Yes, that's a classic of its kind. Rough translation: yeah, I did it, but then I did it in the Union, and I did it in the NHS, and anyway a big boy told me it was OK. I have no morals of my own.<br /><br />I can't wait to see him whingeing when he gets to court. OH reckons he'll get a lot more than Chaytor. We shall see ...Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-69762810347818938632011-01-07T22:09:07.234+00:002011-01-07T22:09:07.234+00:00We've got Jim Devine up next. See what we have...We've got Jim Devine up next. See what we have to put up with in jockoland ;) His 'interview' on Channel 4 was a classic.....Get the popcorn out..<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf79TxtYuOYDonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-4736374587411937322011-01-07T21:52:02.018+00:002011-01-07T21:52:02.018+00:00Don: "At least he won't have to share a c...Don: "At least he won't have to share a cell with a 'nasty' smoker..." Thank God for that. I was worried for a minute.<br /><br />Joe: Indeed, and the fact that they didn't think the rest of us would be just ever so slightly miffed about it shows how out-of-touch they have become.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-65384350250263384472011-01-07T21:32:54.502+00:002011-01-07T21:32:54.502+00:00"How would they not think we would be outrage..."How would they not think we would be outraged when the truth came out?"<br /><br />Because they were MPs; because it was endemic in Parliament; because expenses-fiddling had taken place for generations; because they didn't think it would become public knowledge; & the rules / regulations they expect common people to abide by shouldn't have to apply to an MP.Joe Publichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829909061904690380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-36296468365911657262011-01-07T21:29:16.761+00:002011-01-07T21:29:16.761+00:00At least he won't have to share a cell with a ...At least he won't have to share a cell with a 'nasty' smoker...<br /><br />" Written answers and statements, 6 February 2006<br /><br />David Chaytor (Bury North, Labour)<br /><br />To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to ensure that non-smoking prison inmates are not required to share cells with prisoners who smoke.<br /><br />Fiona Mactaggart (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Slough, Labour)<br /><br />Each prison develops its own no smoking" policy in line with current health and safety advice, taking into account the type of establishment it is, its population and the special needs of that population. Wherever possible prisoners should not be required to share accommodation with a smoker if they so request."<br /><br />( From dickpuddlecotes's blog)Donnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-77288257146896973252011-01-07T21:08:39.093+00:002011-01-07T21:08:39.093+00:00Sometimes, the wisdom of crowds is a fine thing. ...Sometimes, the wisdom of crowds is a fine thing. Thing is, most of us have to deal with work expenses in our daily lives. How would they not think we would be outraged when the truth came out?Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-64389046803314994132011-01-07T20:59:34.234+00:002011-01-07T20:59:34.234+00:00Our local MP was a Labour Trougher, who fiddled hi...Our local MP was a Labour Trougher, who fiddled his expenses & had to reimburse the Taxpayer.<br /><br />When his repayment was reported in the local rag, it was as if he'd made a payment to charity.<br /><br />Fortunately, the electorate threw him out.Joe Publichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829909061904690380noreply@blogger.com