Tuesday 12 May 2009

For Foulkes sake!


Got to love politicians trying to defend themselves over pay and expenses.

Everyone's favourite peer, Lord Foulkes has a go.

"They're [MP's] paid £64,000... what's your salary?... £92,000?! That's nearly twice as much as MPs."

Actually, it's just less that 50% more... not quite "nearly twice as much." Back to school, Lord Foulkes. Also, is he really trying to suggest that an MP can't live on £64,000 a year? I suppose you can't re-tile your swimming pool on that...


"And you are paid a lot more than them to do a lot less important work."

And there was me thinking it was the job of political journalists to hold politicians to account, to demand from them the high standards that their office should maintain. Okay, the journos aren't making the laws of the land or sending our forces off to war, but they are the medium through which the public are informed of the decisions the politicians take.


Our favourite Lord might do well to remember that the media often hold the keys to re-election for a number of MPs. Not that he needs to worry about that for his second job in the House of Lords I suppose.

Favourite line from this piece:

"What a lot of nonsense you're talking."

Though it should probably have come from the reporter and not from Foulkes...

9 comments:

Holyrood Patter 12 May 2009 at 11:34  

92k is a lot, but this man is a national emberassment. i think at fmqs the PO lets him get away with murder. labour always wheel him out to talk about expenses, and yet it is he who has 2 jobs.
Perhaps i detest him because he sits in the house of lords, or because he is symbolic of Labours "big tent" whereby people completely devoid of any talent can earn a nice living

Malc 12 May 2009 at 11:38  

In fairness... he doesn't get paid for being a Lord. But on the talent thing, I'm with you all the way.

Neil,  12 May 2009 at 11:41  

In fairness Malc, he gets makes a very tidy living out of his peerage - what with tours he gives and the Lords expenses system which is just as bad as the Commons' one.

Alan Smart 12 May 2009 at 11:50  

Lay off the Red Baron. The independence movement's best asset. Long may he reign. And get it over that £100k mark George before these next holyrood elections

Malc 12 May 2009 at 12:08  

All good points guys.

CrazyDaisy 12 May 2009 at 12:45  

Malc,

He really is talentless - other than that of making money at the taxpayers' expense from being below adequate in every aspect of common decency as an MSP or Lard, Laird, Lord.

AWC - he is without doubt the biggest hypocrite this side of the Border and a talented recruiter for the Independence cause lol!

CD

Alan Smart 13 May 2009 at 00:15  

The Red Baron - what a guy. I gave him until 2011 to get over that £100k a year mark, But recession or not, thw good Lord has done it in less than a day

House of Lords: claimed £54,441 in allowances for 94 days attendance (£579/day)

Earns £36,000 as a Parliamentary Consultant to Eversheds LLP for 36 days work (£1000/day)

Claimed £3061.17 in allowances from the Scottish Parliament between April 2008 and March 2009

Salary for a Member of the Scottish Parliament £56,671.

So he trousers £110,000 in salary from the taxpayer, more than a government minister


Thansks to Iain Dale for the info

The Aberdonian,  13 May 2009 at 12:57  

I am not sure where he is spending it. His flat in the Gilmore-end Bruntsfield looks quite modest compared to some other politicians - cannot be more than two bedrooms.

But then Edinburgh property prices-----

Administrator 13 May 2009 at 21:17  

In 2005, he sold one Edinburgh property and bought another in the capital for £305,000 without a mortgage. He sold his home in Ayrshire for £600,000 - a deal that made him a £400,000 profit - and bought a cottage in Maybole for £280,000, again without a loan.

He has also stung the taxpayer for his London second home since 1980. A home owned by his mother whom he diligently paid rent money for 25 years.

On her death he inherited the London property and not wishing to change the habits of a life time, charged the House of Lords £45,000 for 2005 to 2007 for hsi London accommodation.

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