home secretary using government expenses for porno

x in the city

Imagine if this happened Cowen.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7971221.stm

Gordon Brown has said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's use of Commons expenses for two adult films watched by her husband should be a "personal matter".

The prime minister said the matter should not "detract" from the "great job" Ms Smith was doing.

Ms Smith has said she "mistakenly" made the claims when billing the authorities for her second homes costs.

Tory leader David Cameron said it was "hugely embarrassing for her" but not a resignation issue on its own.

Ms Smith did not see the films, which were watched by her husband Richard Timney at the family home in Redditch, Worcestershire, but was said to be "mortified" by the error.

The home secretary said she had claimed for a TV package when billing for a web connection under her second homes allowance and would repay the cash.

'Safer neighbourhoods'

Mr Brown told a Downing Street press conference: "This is very much a personal matter for Jacqui.

"She has made her apology. Her husband has made it clear that he has apologised.

"I think the best thing is that Jacqui Smith gets on with her work, which is what she wants to do."


I think the best thing is that Jacqui Smith gets on with her work, which is what she wants to do
Gordon Brown
Q&A: Smith and MPs' expenses
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He added: "The home secretary is doing a great job and in no way should this issue be allowed to detract from everything she is doing for the public in making our neighbourhoods safer."

But Mr Cameron said there had to be "complete transparency" in the way MPs' expenses were handled.

He told the BBC he had told his MPs: "If you can't defend what you are doing, don't do it. We've got to get public opinion with us."

Ms Smith uses her allowances to employ Mr Timney as her parliamentary aide on a salary of up to £40,000 a year.

She is already being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over her decision to claim at least £116,000 in second-home allowances for her family home in her constituency in Redditch, Worcs, since becoming an MP.

'Something wrong'

Ms Smith says she did nothing wrong over her second home claims as she had approval to say her main home was her sister's house in South London where she rents a room.

Mr Cameron said: "I think she has got some questions to answer about the second home issue. It does seem to me pretty incredible to claim that the home where her family is, that is not her main home."

"I think this goes to a deeper problem which is the second home allowance for MPs. The prime minister has ordered a review but he has sort of kicked it into the long grass," he added.

"The review doesn't start until September, it is not going to report until after the next election. That is hopeless. We have got to get on with it."

Gordon Brown defends Jacqui Smith

He said there was "something wrong with the culture of the system", shown by the fact that the expenses claim which included the adult movies had been approved.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said MPs should face expenses "spot checks" and complete item-by-item receipts.

He told the BBC: "The system needs to be looked at top to toe... The whole of the Westminster village is in the last chance saloon.

"We have a common interest in sorting this out quickly."

Mr Timney made a public statement on Sunday in which he apologised for embarrassing his wife.

MPs can claim for subscription television services but they have to be used wholly, exclusively and necessarily to perform their duties.

The Sunday Express reported that two films, which cost £5 each, were viewed on 6 and 8 April 2008 at Ms Smith's constituency home.

The claim was also said to include two viewings of the film Ocean's 13 - at £3.75 each - and an additional £3.50 to watch the film Surf's Up.

'Immediate steps'

Ms Smith said in a statement: "I'm sorry that, in claiming for my internet connection, I mistakenly claimed for a television package alongside it.

"As soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I took immediate steps to contact the relevant parliamentary authorities and rectify the situation.

"All money claimed for the television package will be paid back in full."

Downing Street said on Sunday that Ms Smith was doing a "great" job and would not let the incident distract her from her role as home secretary.

The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life has previously announced a wide-ranging review of MPs' pay and allowances, due to start later this year.

Mr.Lizard

If it happened to Cowen he'd just put a gag on Sky News or whoever.

Mr.Lizard

The husband sounds like a total dope. First off working as an 'assistant' for his wife (get a real job) and then spending his pocket-money watching porno movies whilst a high-profile individual.... and THEN claiming them as an expense (his own oversight).

Wagon

I love the way they put so many things in inverted commas in the article. Makes it sound funnier.

AnonoBoy

Mr.Lizard wrote: »

If it happened to Cowen he'd just put a gag on SkyNews.

That's a horrible image. Brian Cowen on his sofa, ill-fitting trousers around his ankles, going at it while watching midget porn.

*shudder*

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

AnonoBoy wrote: »

That's a horrible image. Brian Cowen on his sofa, ill-fitting trousers around his ankles, going at it while watching midget porn.

*shudder*

... National Art Gallery - give it a week. Maybe two.

Mr.Lizard

That's a horrible image.

Any image of Cowen is a horrible image.

Hogzy

Mr.Lizard wrote: »

Any image of Cowen is a horrible image.

Unless its a picture of him with his tail between his legs leaving government

Wreck

Mr.Lizard wrote: »

The husband sounds like a total dope. First off working as an 'assistant' for his wife (get a real job) and then spending his pocket-money watching porno movies whilst a high-profile individual.... and THEN claiming them as an expense (his own oversight).

Paying for porn when he has a working internet connection swings it for me.

Turd Ferguson

Wagon wrote: »

I love the way they put so many things in inverted commas in the article. Makes it sound funnier.

No it's not. It's "annoying" and "irritating"

Mossy Monk

Paying for soft core pornography. Even worse.

AnonoBoy

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

No it's not. It's "annoying" and "irritating"

What if I make the quotation marks with my fingers as I say the sentence. \o/

Less "irritating"? More "irritating"?

Wagon

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

No it's not. It's "annoying" and "irritating"

I dont know how this will sound, but now that you mentioned it, it actually kind of is...

connundrum

Wagon wrote: »

I dont know how this will sound, but now that you mentioned it, it actually kind of is...

"Down with this sort of thing!"

Tech3

things are bad if she has to get a porn video for her husband.

Mr.Lizard

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

No it's not. It's "annoying" and "irritating"

Agreed. I don't need a story about Jacqui Smiths "husband" with his "trousers" down around his ankles, "fist clenched" as he watched a "movie" "beating" his "member" into "white submission".

Turd Ferguson

Mr.Lizard wrote: »

Agreed. I don't need a story about Jacqui Smiths "husband" with his "trousers" down around his ankles, "fist clenched" as he watched a "movie" "beating" his "member" into "white submission".

I think "we" should all start "posting" "like" "this" from now on. Just to "piss" people off. maybe we "can" underline things and "put" others in "bold" just to "make" the posts rEaLly hard to "read"

Hephaestus

Ms Smith uses her allowances to employ Mr Timney as her parliamentary aide on a salary of up to £40,000 a year

Gordon Brown has said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's use of Commons expenses for two adult films watched by her husband should be a "personal matter".

Their both employed by the state, spending money on porno movies & writing it off as expenses so why the f**k would it be a private matter? The british taxpayers have every right to give it to them. Not literally of course:D

She is already being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over her decision to claim at least £116,000 in second-home allowances for her family home in her constituency in Redditch, Worcs, since becoming an MP.
Ms Smith says she did nothing wrong over her second home claims as she had approval to say her main home was her sister's house in South London where she rents a room.

Says it all really. F**kers are milking the British taxpayers for every penny they can. They deserve everything they get.