MP expenses investigation broadcast tonight features Claire Ward? (From Watford Observer)
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MP expenses investigation broadcast tonight features Claire Ward?
12:25pm Sunday 19th April 2009 in News
Claire Ward is rumoured to be featured in a Channel 4 investigation into MP's controversial second home allowances, to be broadcast tonight.
The Watford Observer understands Ms Ward will be included in a Dispatches programme, The Westminster Gravy Train, looking into MP's expenses claims, which airs at 7pm.
Between 2002 and 2007 she claimed more than £95,000 to fund a second home, despite living less than 30 miles from parliament.
But Ms Ward has continually defended the use of her second, Westminster home.
She previously told the Watford Observer: "The reason I have a second home is to allow me to be able to work in Westminster, which includes a lot of late nights.
"I am a Government whip which means I tend to be in the house for longer periods than other MPs. My second home allows me to balance my work with seeing my family.
"I understand a lot of other people also work very long hours too but MPs often work until around 10.30pm at night. I often have to come back to the House very early the next morning."
Comments(31)
mummy_1
says...
3:07pm Sun 19 Apr 09
Why does she not simply book into a nearby budget hotel like Travelodge or Travelinn when she has the odd late night? All it would take is a bit of advance planning.
If she had to bed down in one of the many empty council flats or houses on a South-London estate I bet she would be on next available (slow or fast)train out of Euston each evening even if it meant getting the first train out of WJ each morning.
I for one cannot wait to see the programme.
Susie72
says...
4:52pm Sun 19 Apr 09
I am often in Westminster, and my young children are often in bed when I get home from work. Why should she be so different to the rest of us?
Depending on where her second home is it may take her just as long to get back. I think she should just tell us, and not say she lives in Watford.
jennytayloroak
says...
6:19pm Sun 19 Apr 09
They better check that her husband hasn't ordered any "naughty movies" on Sky!
hempstead
says...
8:14pm Sun 19 Apr 09
HertsPeter
says...
9:50pm Sun 19 Apr 09
I think these MPs quickly assume a mentality whereby they probably don't even see anything wrong in what they are doing, as so many of them are at it. Like greedy little boys and girls with their sticky hands in a jam-jar.
Hairybiker
says...
10:42am Mon 20 Apr 09
With Watford's taxi drivers struggling to earn a living during the recession couldn't she get them to pick her up when Parliament finishes?
If she was there every day of the week for 52 weeks - okay I'm dreaming -it would cost us in the region of £10,000. Now that's quite a saving.
Then she could spend the money on doing up that shabby house in Woodford Road. Did you see the colour of her nets?
Tudor247
says...
11:44am Mon 20 Apr 09
Bernard
says...
2:01pm Mon 20 Apr 09
I think it means she is pulling a fast ione , she does not live there bit is getting way with as other MPs are and trying to get as much money as possible off us tax payers before she loses her sat next year!!- and about time to! Di she not have to pasy back some money a few ago for miss use of House of Commons letters. We should make her sell her second home and give the money back her £70K or so salary should be enough to live on - its moe than double most people get !
Emma Wraithes
says...
2:43pm Mon 20 Apr 09
MPs are already in Westminster fewer than 150 days a year. Now this! Opposition MPs are complaining of a lack of parliamentary business, after the Queen's Speech was cut to 12 Bills from an original 18.
Respected Labour MP Frank Field said, 'Week after week, MPs have been turning up but with almost no serious work to do,'. So why does Ms Ward need a second home?
Paradise Watford
says...
3:43pm Mon 20 Apr 09
At the same time with the country in the state it is why is there so little for them to do in Westminster. This is a time for action so maybe endless debate would hinder things, but at the same time...
As to second homes, surely as they are being funded by the tax payer once an MP's is no longer an MP the home should be returned and either passed onto the next MP or sold and at least some of the money recouped? Same with any furniture, electrical goods etc. that were bought.
Or maybe rather than an allowance allowing MP's to buy properties they can only rent?
IanFBram
says...
4:51pm Mon 20 Apr 09
Has anyone any idea just how many nights a year the MPs actually spend in their second homes. A few facts would be useful.
IanFBram
says...
4:52pm Mon 20 Apr 09
Has anyone any idea just how many nights a year the MPs actually spend in their second homes. A few facts would be useful.
Babsie
says...
5:32pm Mon 20 Apr 09
How can that be Ms. Ward's 2nd home?
A Travelodge whould be like a Palace compared to that place!
Arthur
says...
7:59pm Mon 20 Apr 09
As far as getting a cab to Watford every night it cost me £75 to get home from London in a black cab only a few weeks ago.
According to "they work for you", Claire Ward claimed an average of £18,706.86 a year in additional cost allowances over the last 7 years.
Seemingly, her expenses are audited and fall well withing the parameters set by an all party Government Committee.
What's all the fuss?
Bernard
says...
8:51pm Mon 20 Apr 09
At least one other candufdate say they will not claim this second home scanal allowance and thus save the taxpayer 2Ok plus a year - I know who gets my vote and its not money graber Ward.
mummy_1
says...
9:01pm Mon 20 Apr 09
IanFBram wrote:Ianfbram
Is it not time that they built a hostel or converted a building near Westminster? All they need is a comfortable bed and bathroom for the night. Has anyone any idea just how many nights a year the MPs actually spend in their second homes. A few facts would be useful.
I was thinking maybe a dormitory. This would be even more cost effective and Imagine how much money would also be saved on a certain type of movie!!
In such tough times, how obscene can these people be. They are taking from the poor and lining their own pockets.
Did you see her nose grow when she was taking?
Clare is not in the job to help the residents of Watford, she is in it for herself.
I am sick with shame.
Arthur
says...
9:11pm Mon 20 Apr 09
After all Dorothy Thornhill asserted if elected in 2002 that she would re-run the mayoral referendum and furthermore that she would reduce Watford's Council tax to the Hertfordshire average.
She did neither.
So much for electioneering!
mummy_1
says...
10:28pm Mon 20 Apr 09
I don't Arhur
Are you saying that you beleive Clare is not taking advantage of the system?
An equivalent of the 'government' benefit cheat hotline please, to snoop on her and her collegues, followed by a thorough investigation into their findings.
Clare is a definate case of Poacher turned game-keeper if you ask me.
Tudor247
says...
10:40pm Mon 20 Apr 09
Arthur wrote:What ever the parameters/rules say it is clear to all but the politically myopic that such expense claims are wholly unacceptable to the vast majority of electors. The politically astute will get modern and follow the plot line, those who don't should not get elected. As for local finance there is only so far any party can go,but I recall the small increases that have occurred year on year since 2002.
I don't "think" that anything is "right". The parameters for MP's expenses are set by an all party committee. As I understand it all Claire Wards claims are within those parameters. Almost half the MP's in Parliament claim overall more than she does. As far as a candidate asserting that they will not make claims for expenses to which they are legally entitled is perhaps bogus. After all Dorothy Thornhill asserted if elected in 2002 that she would re-run the mayoral referendum and furthermore that she would reduce Watford's Council tax to the Hertfordshire average. She did neither. So much for electioneering!
Paradise Watford
says...
9:04am Tue 21 Apr 09
Rather like putting a group of children into a sweet shop and telling them they can decide amongst themselves how many sweets they can buy...
As to second homes etc. as MP's are so out of touch with reality maybe a way to bring them down to earth is instead of the allowance for second homes/accommodation they should be given a cardboard box and old newspapers, or if they are lucky a smelly old sleeping bag or blanket, and told to find a park bench/doorway for the night. And if they want food or drink they can beg passers by for 10 pence.
jennytayloroak
says...
9:15am Tue 21 Apr 09
Arthur
says...
9:43am Tue 21 Apr 09
a) Re-run the mayoral referendum.
b) Reduce Watford's council tax to the county average.
She's done neither.
Ms Ward's expenses are audited and approved by government inspectors. This is why Ms Smiths husband's TV habits became public, this is why certain of Ms Ward's postal expenses were rejected.
Her expenses are completely legitimate and legal under the terms of the rules for MP's expenses.
I wonder what a close examination of Dorothy Thornhill's expenses might throw up. Remember she's the one who took 18 months to declare a jolly to Israel paid for by the Moonies.
I don't really care where Ms Ward lives in Watford.
What I care about is - is she doing a good job for her constituents?
The answer to that is an unreserved yes!
Mal-contents like "Molly" might be a lot happier if they got a life.
Watford Fib Dems are obviously becoming quite desperate as their national electoral ambitions gradually fade away
Emma Wraithes
says...
10:37am Tue 21 Apr 09
Arthur, I assume you are one of those who are happy with Fred Goodwin's pension and payoff? AFter all, that was 'legitimate and legal under the terms of the rules'.
Ms Ward's parliamentary colleague Harriet Harman said of Goodwin's pension 'It might be enforceable in a court of law, but it's not enforceable in the court of public opinion and that's where the government steps in'. MPs make their own rules and the parliamentary office concerned admitted that it didn't have the people to check the claims, but just rubber-stamped them.
A shame she doesn't feel the same about MPs' expenses - the amount they are ripping off each year is far more in total than Sir Fred.
Bernard
says...
10:38am Tue 21 Apr 09
Lib Dem MPs have been publishing their expenses for years and Normam Baker their MP for Lewes has led on exposing this in the the UK and their MEP Chris Davies the same in the EU- where its an even bigger scandal that has sen two Tory MEPs thrown out and two UKIP thrown out all for taking money wrongly. Even Cameron now admits all wrong- although I see his MPs in next door Hertsmere and S W Herts are big claimers as well.
Ward claims she lives in a run down house with no parking in Woodford Road as her "main home" not an up market appartment in London-. Question anyone ever seen her, her husband and children walking down the road, does she has a residents parking permit Dorothy, have the the Observer actually called on her neighbours to see if they have ever seen her- I will not re judge the answer but I bet the odds are on a firm "NO"
butterflies&hurricanes
says...
3:41pm Tue 21 Apr 09
Arthur wrote:She lives on Londons doorstep ,most of the higher claimers are from the north of England or abroad and obviously their expenses will be higher.I wonder how many Mps within 30 miles of Westminster claim more than her,not fr1ggin many...
I don't "think" that anything is "right". The parameters for MP's expenses are set by an all party committee. As I understand it all Claire Wards claims are within those parameters. Almost half the MP's in Parliament claim overall more than she does. As far as a candidate asserting that they will not make claims for expenses to which they are legally entitled is perhaps bogus.
After all Dorothy Thornhill asserted if elected in 2002 that she would re-run the mayoral referendum and furthermore that she would reduce Watford's Council tax to the Hertfordshire average.
She did neither.
So much for electioneering!
Shaven Haven
says...
7:25pm Tue 21 Apr 09
Hairybiker wrote:That place in Woodford road looks just as bad as the squat at 9 Stanley Road.
If it is costing us tax payers £95,000 to fund her second home then there is a very easy solution.
With Watford's taxi drivers struggling to earn a living during the recession couldn't she get them to pick her up when Parliament finishes?
If she was there every day of the week for 52 weeks - okay I'm dreaming -it would cost us in the region of £10,000. Now that's quite a saving.
Then she could spend the money on doing up that shabby house in Woodford Road. Did you see the colour of her nets?
Perhaps she's waiting for a council grant to do it up...
From the outside, it looks derelict.
Watford council should spy on Clare Ward, as they do on benefit claimants or people who want to send their kids to a particular school...
i'd love to know how many nights she spends in that utter tip!
Shaven Haven
says...
7:34pm Tue 21 Apr 09
Arthur wrote:The fuss, Arthur, is that Clare Ward should lead by example.
There are 647 MP's in the House of Commons. According to "they work for you", last year Claire Ward ranked 315th in overall expenses claims. That seemingly is about the median for all MP's.
As far as getting a cab to Watford every night it cost me £75 to get home from London in a black cab only a few weeks ago.
According to "they work for you", Claire Ward claimed an average of £18,706.86 a year in additional cost allowances over the last 7 years.
Seemingly, her expenses are audited and fall well withing the parameters set by an all party Government Committee.
What's all the fuss?
I've lost count of the times that I had to work late in central London and commute after normal working hours.
This parasite sits on her fat ar$e all day, eats free lunches and the only time you see her is kissing babies at school gates come election time.
She is a waste of space, along with the other 640 odd MPs.
And terribly bad value for tax-payers money.
Sara
says...
3:12pm Wed 22 Apr 09
Why not go and have a look? However you may be disappointed, as I understand others have already had a trawl through and found nothing.
For interest, in 2006/07 Dorothy claimed expenses of £1,161 and in the following year £1,187. Just over a grand a year! Now how much did Ms Ward claim again?
samual
says...
1:20pm Fri 24 Apr 09
It'll be my first general election next year, i know who im voting for.
hoelfawr
says...
12:21pm Sun 10 May 09
Once again that great Cromwellian command should ring through the Commons "In the name of God - Go!"
enlightened one says...
1:19pm Sun 19 Apr 09