Should I.Duncan Smiths expenses be capped at £26k a year? OT

[TF_Allan_MarsdenParticipant]

Interesting points made on this blog here: http://edinburgheye.wordpress.com/2012/ … can-smith/

A few things to highlight:

– In 2008/09 (the year the benefits scandal was exposed), IDS claimed over £98000 in expenses
– This is despite the fact he is on a salary of over £134000 a year
– His wife is much richer than him and has inherited a lot of money, they live in a £2m 3 acre farmhouse with tennis court, swimming pool and orchards
– In 2009 while his wife was ill with cancer he took 6 months off work and was paid £68000 by the taxpayer to cover this period
– His new proposals are that partners of cancer patients who have to take time off work to be carers should not receive ‘open ended’ support. Would being paid £68k for 6 months off count as open ended?

[TF_Allan_MarsdenParticipant]

[TF_Allan_MarsdenParticipant]

Re;

– His new proposals are that partners of cancer patients who have to take time off work to be carers should not receive ‘open ended’ support. Would being paid £68k for 6 months off count as open ended?

Even worse and despicable than this is that cancer sufferers themselves would be time limited on ESA to 1 year and after that year they will be put onto JSA. Yes thats right, cancer sufferers have one year to “get better” then they’re fit to work and will have to actively seek work or lose the benefit. The Lords overturned this and voted to give cancer sufferers unlimited time on ESA but this disgraceful governenment have said once it goes back to the Commons they will use an old 1700’s law to overturn the decision.

[Anonymous]

How many MP’s defraud and how many benefit claimants defraud ? Then multiply the average of £1858 & £59 and then see what the total ‘loss’ is. Fraud is fraud and the law should not be different for anyone. If an MP is guilty of a criminal act then he/she should be punished according to the law just like anyone else. Same for benefit cheats.

‘His wife is much richer than him and has inherited a lot of money, they live in a £2m 3 acre farmhouse with tennis court, swimming pool and orchards’ – so what. That has nothing to do with his earnings and his benefits. What matters is whether his benefits were justified and in accordance with his contract of employment. If his contract allows it then he has done nothing wrong. If we don’t like it then we have to vote for change.

Biggest problem is making sure we pay those who genuinely need help and support and, at the same time, weeding out those who are abusing, or just taking advantage of, the system .

[Author]

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