Expenses and Gurkhas

So quite a busy few days in Parliament then.

First the plight of the Gurkhas came to the chamber with the government thoughtfully telling us about the apparent cost of 100 of thousands of pounds as the Gurkhas are set to swarm the country.

The fact that only about 1000 or so Gurkhas actually want to come to our country, seem to have missed them. But hey……. let’s not let the truth spoil the governments scaremongering!

Now to be fair I don’t know too much about the Gurkhas , except that they had formed one of the most revered regiment in the army they are still recruited from the foot hills of Nepal and have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years.

I also know we owe them a lot they have been fighting (and dying) on behalf of our nation in some of the major conflict around the world, as a child I remember that they were part of the force that re took the Falkland’s and of course they have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
so I think it was fair to say we owe them. That’s why they have earned the right to move here if they wish. After all if they were commonwealth soldiers with four years service can live here no problem.

That’s why I was proud that the Lib Dem’s used there opposition day debate this and what was more surprising was the fact there motion won. The first time that had happened for twenty years.

Dan (Rogerson MP) was telling me today that he was the teller and was surprised the labour MP’s held their nerve and voted with them. As the MP’s filled past him he suddenly realised he would have to give the result to the Speaker, something he has never had to do and he was a bit worried that he might get it wrong on such an auspicious occasion. Of course he was fine, I bet it was great to be there.

Not so today…… as the MP’s talked around the issue of their expenses.

The BBC reckons that it wasn’t a bad day for Gordon, as although he had to scrape the attendance allowance idea, they did go with researchers being employed by Parliament, having to prove all claims with receipts (welcome to the real world!) and not paying for second homes for MP’s representing constituencies in greater London.

Actually I’m not against them getting expenses and tonight’s changes seen reasonable to me.
I just wonder why suddenly Gordon felt the urge to intervene. What does he know that we don’t? ...... I look forward to the July disclosures.

Rumour has it in Westminster that some MP’s are in deep trouble and maybe three of them may have to resign imediatiely causing by elections……. We shall see.