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Shake-up will mean Robinsons will get less
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson with his wife Iris at his desk at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Northern Ireland
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A shake-up in MP housing expenses will cut the entitlements of top DUP couple Peter and Iris Robinson.
Husband and wife MPs have been permitted for years to each claim the full second home allowance from the Commons.
Under a new system announced this week, couples will only be able to receive a maximum of one person’s allowance between them.
The change was among the measures agreed by Westminster party leaders — including Mr Robinson — at a meeting this week.
They have been described as interim reforms, pending the findings of an official inquiry into MP expenses by the watchdog Committee on Standards in Public Life. Mr and Mrs Robinson jointly own a Thames-side apartment in London, which they bought for £450,000 in 2001. In the financial year 2007/08 Mr Robinson received £19,864 under the second home allowance while £20,478 went to his MP wife.
The maximum for that year was £23,083 per MP.
According to leaked expenses details reported by the Daily Telegraph last week, the DUP couple claimed for £30,525 worth of food between them under the second home allowance over the period 2004-2008.
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Our MPs have not abused the system as the mainland MPs have done.
But the UUP have something to answer for...why did they link up with such a corrupt party...moat cleaning and tennis courts and second home flipping etc etc...all with us paying the bill.
Our MEPs must answer too. Allister admitted on Nolan last friday to pocketing the full 1400 euros for flights even though it only costs him about 400. He also gets 287 euro a day for hotels and food. 200 on hotels, 87 on food!
Posted by david | 24.05.09, 17:27 GMT
Paul
You have to realise that it isn't easy to get elected as an MP - you don't apply for a job as an MP. It isn't a normal job in a normal routine subject to work place rules... it's just not...
Imagine if every four years your job was up for renewal and the people who decided if you keep it was everyone in your neighbourhood!!! Bit more involved than just filling in a time sheet or a performance review every few months!
Posted by Gareth | 22.05.09, 12:15 GMT
At last, these people - (the Robinson family and the extended Government families)- are being taught that they will have to start living to the same rules that apply to the majority of workers in this country. However it looks like they are still on the BIG gravy train as the new talk is of £100k payoffs for "quitting". If I as an ordinary worker QUIT my job , I would not receive a payoff from my employer. I would only get my pension when it was due.
Posted by paul | 21.05.09, 10:15 GMT