Speaker Michael Martin is financially ok for life

[max_tranmere]

People like him never lose. If he is out on his ear over his mishandling of the expenses scandal he will instantly be given a job heading up a quango, some parliamentary committee or similar, and within days he will have numerous other jobs - that he doesn't deserve, wont be able to do, but will be given because it will line his pockets and they will just add on another tear of staff under him to really do everything while he just creams off. Then there are the ghost-written books which he will claim to write, even though he will have had little to do with them but as the 'author' he will get a huge advance and genorous royalties.

The 'several homes', the huge taxi bills, and everything else, will continue for life. Then there is the huge pension he will get. It makes you sick in an era where other people lose their jobs and struggle and when everyone is having to tighten their belts. Why can't this twat, who clearly has no conscience and who regards the public purse as his own personal piggy-bank, just be slung out and then have to worry about money like everyone else would? Why can't he go and sign-on and live on ?60.00 a week or whatever they get? Why can't he 'take a ticket' at the job centre, wait to be called up, and then talk to the person at the desk and then take whatever job is available?

There really is an elite in this country that are not subject to the same things the rest of us are. They walk between the raindrops, they never get wet...

[number 6]

I don't see people who come from Glasgow council estate as the elite. At least Martin has done it the hard way to get where he is,unlike the likes of Cameron.

[number 6]

I just dont see Martin as a slimeball,how does he come across that way?seems to me like the guy you would meet down the pub,very normal in my eyes.

[spider]

I think the problem is that "cheating" MPs were counting on Mick Martin to lead the fight to keep their expenses secret.

It was Mick Martin who kept going to the courts to say that publication of MPs Expenses should be exempt from the Freedom of Information act.

He lost this battle and now he must be punished for that.

I read yesterday that the Queen is said to be "deeply troubled over MPs' expenses".

The phrase "pot, kettle and black" comes to mind here.

Is her concern that the taxpayer is being expected to fund the lavish lifestyles of a bunch of MPs?

Or is she worried that now that MPs expenses claims have been exposed and the taxpayer is actually seeing what we are paying for; the Royal Family?s expenses claims are next for exposure?

Parliament has lost the battle for exemption from the Freedom of Information Act, is she afraid the Royal Finances will be next for public scrutiny?

[steve56]

What a show up when the tories were in the cash for qustions in the 90s Labour were up in arms saying were be better well fight sleaze labours shit and its been proved

[max_tranmere]

I agree that Carmeron (Osbourne too) are there cos of family connections and not there on merit. I do think though that if you are in the Labour Party long enough, and you get yourself noticed, you will be given a high-profile job when the party gets into Government. And, as I said, if you are no good they will just find hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money to finance a whole other level of senior people who will operate 'under' you - but will really do everything and you just sign things off and pick up a huge salary for doing very little. John Prescott, who is barely literate, is one of many good (or bad) examples of this.

[max_tranmere]

Martin spent a few hundred grand (from the taxpayers pot) to try and prevent the details of MP's expenses from coming out. Why don't they make him pay it himself? That would be good to see!

[max_tranmere]

spider, a lot of what the Royal's spend taxpayers cash on is in the public domain already. We all know that Prince Andrew - known as 'Air Miles Andy' costs a fortune in public money being flown in a private plane to golfing tournaments, for example. I think the Queen has recently voiced concern over all this because she genuinely cares, and I think there is only a small amount of "we're next!" in her decision to show concern about all of this.