Over £400,000 expenses for MPs who never took seats

23-10-2004, 09:36 PM

THE four Sinn Fein MPs who have yet to take up their seats at Westminster each claimed more than £100,000 in parliamentary expenses and allowances last year.

Since December 2001 Sinn Fein members have been allowed to claim allowances at Westminster in recognition of the progress made in the Northern Ireland peace process.

In an ironic twist, the large expenses revealed yesterday come just a few months after Paul Murphy, the Northern Ireland Secretary, cut the allowances of Sinn Fein and Progressive Unionist Party Northern Ireland Assembly members for one year.

The move followed the Independent Monitoring Commission’s first report which highlighted the levels of paramilitary activity by both republican and loyalist groups.

It recommended action against the two parties in response to continuing IRA and loyalist violence.

The decision to allow Sinn Fein members to claim allowances caused outrage in 2001 but the government defeated a Conservative attempt to block Sinn Fein’s four Westminster MPs Commons office space and allowances.

The Tory party threatened to withdraw from the longstanding bipartisan approach to Northern Ireland outraged that the MPs have never sworn an oath of allegiance to the Queen or taken their seats.

Sinn Fein MPs have office accommodation at Westminster.

There were cries of "shame" when the then leader of the Commons, Robin Cook, moved the formal resolution which reversed a ruling in 1997, that those who choose not to take their seats should not have access to the many benefits and facilities of the Commons.

Michelle Gildernew, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP, topped the Sinn Fein list, claiming £115,420 in expenses and allowances between April 2003 and March 2004.

That sum included £18,400 in so-called Additional Costs Allowance (ACA), paid "to reimburse Members for necessary costs incurred when staying overnight away from their main home for the purpose of performing parliamentary duties".

Ms Gildernew also claimed £67,738 in staff costs.

Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, and MP for West Belfast, claimed £109,315 in expenses and allowances in the same period, including £18,268 in ACA and £64,263 in staff costs.

The Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, MP for Mid Ulster, claimed £110,653, including £18,581 in ACA and £64,272 in staff costs.

West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty claimed a total of £104,064, including £18,320 ACA and £60,982 staff costs.

David Trimble, the leader of the Ulster Unionists, claimed £71,134, including £18,009 ACA and £339,119 staff costs.

23-10-2004, 09:44 PM

British regular soldiers have to go with cap in hand to the government begging for pennies for the injuries they got policing Northern Ireland against this Sinn Fein MP murdering ‘scum’, of whom Tony Blair gives distinction too, before that of his own Troops; but then, he must do what his wife says.

rjt · 25-10-2004, 12:01 PM

The first thing any of our elected MPS must do is to rstore the regulation which requires MPS to swear the Oath of alligence before they can claim expenses. If Shin Fein wish to have such privilages they should take this course of action. Republicans such as Tony Benn and Dennis Skinner had to do so, if they had started to blow people up persumbly this would not have to be the case?

goodsize · 25-10-2004, 06:47 PM

Should your MPS get more in expenses then our soldiers get in war pensions, and as for “Oath of allegiance” I don’t think Guest is even thinking of that; he and many of his kind know that it’s not about giving your word of loyalty, but to whom you give your word too. I do not believe that your MPS should be getting any type of payment from my taxes; it should come from the people in Scotland only.

Anthony Butcher · 25-10-2004, 06:50 PM

Sinn Fein is based in Northern Ireland, not Scotland. I am sure that the Scottish aren't particularly happy about it either. However, it may be a very small price to pay if we can restore peace in Northern Ireland pemanently.

And the costs are born from general taxation across the UK, so everyone pays a little bit towards them.

goodsize · 25-10-2004, 09:19 PM

So! You support the murder of British policemen and soldiers by ‘outraged terrorist’ and allowing them handouts from our taxes makes them ‘righteous’. My comment regarding payment from taxes for the MPS is justified on the grounds “that Scotland wants to be an independent sovereign state" then that’s fine by me; as long as the Scottish people use their taxes to pay for it. How say the rest of you UKIP supporters. Lets have a vote on it.

Anthony Butcher · 25-10-2004, 09:31 PM

lionheart/goodsize,
please don't make ridiculous accusations.

mkpdavies · 25-10-2004, 09:41 PM

Goodsize/Lionheart, you say you are a UKIP supporter yet you address this board like it was the enemy. Can we have your real position please.

My personal position is I wish Cromwell had left Ireland well alone, and we wouldn't have had all the problems since. Seeing as he didn't though, I think the only way to resolve problems is with a little give and take. This may be hard to stomach, but the alternative is endless war.

The only good thing to come out of the war on terrror is the backing of the IRA by certain parties in the states has all but dried up. So to move this all along I am happy that democraticaly elected people from a British teritory get what they are entitled to. It is about time bad blood on this issue died out.

Anthony as a side issue, what is your policy on having mentaly derranged people posting on this board?

Anthony Butcher · 25-10-2004, 10:42 PM

I am currently formulating one. Perhaps you would like to act as the forum spokesman?

I had hoped that Lionheart/goodsize had learned his lesson by being banned the first time. Hopefully he will stay on the straight and narrow in future postings.

mkpdavies · 26-10-2004, 12:34 AM

I am being bombarded with private messages and emails from the guy saying I am going to be taken to court and exposed on Yorkshire T.V.

I am quite looking forward to appearing on T.V and will be available for public speaches afterwards from the mass media coverage that I am sure this will generate.

Alas I think this could harm my attempt at becoming leader, thus I ask all of the forum members to dig deep to help fund my vigorous defence against whatever it is I am being accused of.

I love the internet! You meet such interesting people.

23-10-2004, 09:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Over £400,000 expenses for MPs who never took seats THE four Sinn Fein MPs who have yet to take up their seats at Westminster each claimed more than £100,000 in parliamentary expenses and allowances last year. Since December 2001 Sinn Fein members have been allowed to claim allowances at Westminster in recognition of the progress made in the Northern Ireland peace process. In an ironic twist, the large expenses revealed yesterday come just a few months after Paul Murphy, the Northern Ireland Secretary, cut the allowances of Sinn Fein and Progressive Unionist Party Northern Ireland Assembly members for one year. The move followed the Independent Monitoring Commission’s first report which highlighted the levels of paramilitary activity by both republican and loyalist groups. It recommended action against the two parties in response to continuing IRA and loyalist violence. The decision to allow Sinn Fein members to claim allowances caused outrage in 2001 but the government defeated a Conservative attempt to block Sinn Fein’s four Westminster MPs Commons office space and allowances. The Tory party threatened to withdraw from the longstanding bipartisan approach to Northern Ireland outraged that the MPs have never sworn an oath of allegiance to the Queen or taken their seats. Sinn Fein MPs have office accommodation at Westminster. There were cries of "shame" when the then leader of the Commons, Robin Cook, moved the formal resolution which reversed a ruling in 1997, that those who choose not to take their seats should not have access to the many benefits and facilities of the Commons. Michelle Gildernew, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP, topped the Sinn Fein list, claiming £115,420 in expenses and allowances between April 2003 and March 2004. That sum included £18,400 in so-called Additional Costs Allowance (ACA), paid "to reimburse Members for necessary costs incurred when staying overnight away from their main home for the purpose of performing parliamentary duties". Ms Gildernew also claimed £67,738 in staff costs. Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, and MP for West Belfast, claimed £109,315 in expenses and allowances in the same period, including £18,268 in ACA and £64,263 in staff costs. The Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, MP for Mid Ulster, claimed £110,653, including £18,581 in ACA and £64,272 in staff costs. West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty claimed a total of £104,064, including £18,320 ACA and £60,982 staff costs. David Trimble, the leader of the Ulster Unionists, claimed £71,134, including £18,009 ACA and £339,119 staff costs.

25-10-2004, 09:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,615	Goodsize/Lionheart, you say you are a UKIP supporter yet you address this board like it was the enemy. Can we have your real position please. My personal position is I wish Cromwell had left Ireland well alone, and we wouldn't have had all the problems since. Seeing as he didn't though, I think the only way to resolve problems is with a little give and take. This may be hard to stomach, but the alternative is endless war. The only good thing to come out of the war on terrror is the backing of the IRA by certain parties in the states has all but dried up. So to move this all along I am happy that democraticaly elected people from a British teritory get what they are entitled to. It is about time bad blood on this issue died out. Anthony as a side issue, what is your policy on having mentaly derranged people posting on this board? __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

26-10-2004, 12:34 AM	#10 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,615	I am being bombarded with private messages and emails from the guy saying I am going to be taken to court and exposed on Yorkshire T.V. I am quite looking forward to appearing on T.V and will be available for public speaches afterwards from the mass media coverage that I am sure this will generate. Alas I think this could harm my attempt at becoming leader, thus I ask all of the forum members to dig deep to help fund my vigorous defence against whatever it is I am being accused of. I love the internet! You meet such interesting people. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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23-10-2004, 09:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	British regular soldiers have to go with cap in hand to the government begging for pennies for the injuries they got policing Northern Ireland against this Sinn Fein MP murdering ‘scum’, of whom Tony Blair gives distinction too, before that of his own Troops; but then, he must do what his wife says.

25-10-2004, 12:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
rjt Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Aldershot Posts: 5,155	The first thing any of our elected MPS must do is to rstore the regulation which requires MPS to swear the Oath of alligence before they can claim expenses. If Shin Fein wish to have such privilages they should take this course of action. Republicans such as Tony Benn and Dennis Skinner had to do so, if they had started to blow people up persumbly this would not have to be the case?

25-10-2004, 06:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
goodsize Newbie Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 7	Should your MPS get more in expenses then our soldiers get in war pensions, and as for “Oath of allegiance” I don’t think Guest is even thinking of that; he and many of his kind know that it’s not about giving your word of loyalty, but to whom you give your word too. I do not believe that your MPS should be getting any type of payment from my taxes; it should come from the people in Scotland only.

25-10-2004, 06:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 9,455 Party: None	Sinn Fein is based in Northern Ireland, not Scotland. I am sure that the Scottish aren't particularly happy about it either. However, it may be a very small price to pay if we can restore peace in Northern Ireland pemanently. And the costs are born from general taxation across the UK, so everyone pays a little bit towards them.

25-10-2004, 09:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
goodsize Newbie Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 7	So! You support the murder of British policemen and soldiers by ‘outraged terrorist’ and allowing them handouts from our taxes makes them ‘righteous’. My comment regarding payment from taxes for the MPS is justified on the grounds “that Scotland wants to be an independent sovereign state" then that’s fine by me; as long as the Scottish people use their taxes to pay for it. How say the rest of you UKIP supporters. Lets have a vote on it.

25-10-2004, 09:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 9,455 Party: None	lionheart/goodsize, please don't make ridiculous accusations.

25-10-2004, 10:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 9,455 Party: None	I am currently formulating one. Perhaps you would like to act as the forum spokesman? I had hoped that Lionheart/goodsize had learned his lesson by being banned the first time. Hopefully he will stay on the straight and narrow in future postings.