tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post4164707398170105334..comments2024-03-28T07:32:23.397+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: Pick of the Week 10Jim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-86436861048351720122016-07-17T10:18:47.859+01:002016-07-17T10:18:47.859+01:00Just picking up on the "we're all in it t...Just picking up on the "we're all in it together/one nation" stuff, this from The Guardian last month:<br /><br />"In the aftermath of the expenses scandal, politicians promised a complete reform. Three key things needed changing: transparency, the rules and the culture. Years later, however, and the radical sweeping reforms still do not seem to have materialised... A new watchdog called the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has control over MPs’ pay and expenses.<br /><br />“Our rules are a clean break from the old system of allowances,” it stated when it was set up in 2009. “The new rules are fair (to MPs and the public purse), workable and transparent.”<br /><br />However, despite what MPs may claim, these largely superficial changes do not mean the expenses problem is fixed. Since David Cameron became prime minister, the amount that MPs claim each year has risen by 43%. Total business costs and expenses rose from £79m in 2010/11, to £113m in 2014/15. Parliamentarians are claiming more and more on things such as air travel and rent."<br /><br />Many of those with their snouts deep in the trough weren't MPs in 2009 yet they have quickly adopted their colleagues' old habits of employing family members, etc. And this after their salaries were increased from £67K to £74K to allegedly reduce the 'need' to claim expenses. So 11% pay rise AND 43% increase in expenses... Win, Win!!<br /><br />Should've been a Member of the One Nation Parliament.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-51090646284892100192016-07-17T09:02:16.199+01:002016-07-17T09:02:16.199+01:00Dear me. What a sorry state of affairs! Can anyone...Dear me. What a sorry state of affairs! Can anyone else see any parallels with what is going on in se rail service? There was something about it in the news today with a demonstration and placards reading 'bring back british rail' .Did the minister also resign? You cannot run a company successfully in the long term if the majority of the frontline staff are demoralised and things are not improving. What are sodexo, working links et al doing to improve morale? They should be listening to staff and working with them and not against them. Otherwise things will only continue to get worse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com