So the Telegraph has got hold of MPs expenses before they officially published, stand by for some embarrassing back downs or corrections.
Guido has a great explanation of the phrases we’ll hear over the next few days. I’ve republished here
“It has since been corrected” - I knew it was going to come out and it was such a blatant fiddle that I realised I had to repay the fraudulently claimed money before it came out.
“The Fees Office approved the payment“ - the Fees Office always take the word of “honourable” members. They always make the payment without question.
“It was a clerical error” - it was a small fiddle.
“Lessons have been learned“ - we have got away with it, but we won’t do it again.
“We have to have two homes to do our job properly” - why stay in a hotel when we can build a property portfolio at the public’s expense.
“Claims were made in good faith” - we have always got away with it in the past.
“It was within the rules” - MPs make the rules to suit themselves. MPs are lawmakers, judge and jury. It is a joke at our expense. They really are almost all at it.
