cheeky but not true

this weeks county times has a large part dedicated to its local MP lembit opik expenses explanation.
It details his reason for not paying himself a £40 summons that he forwarded as an expense as well as details of the extensive work he had done on his london flat and how he furnished it or at least how much it cost.
Once again mr opik fell into the trap like other expense fraudsters of being creative with his answers including answering a question posed by the telegraph as to the council tax status of his 'lodger'.
Mr Opik replied by stating he had saved the tax payer money by not charging his council tax or allowance for his flat to the fees office as his lodger was covering the charge.
He also pleads that an MP has to have a residency in london for his work.
But at no time does Mr opik see the irony or show the humility required here.
Trying to make out that his lodger is somehow aiding the tax payer at an already furnished and renovated flat is quite pathetic.
Almost as bad as stating that due to his bereft feelings at the loss of family members had affected his memory at the initial summons request.
Of course many people have to go through family tragedies but still manage to 'pay up' and balance the books even though they have been bereft.
You will also recallat Mr Opik somehow managed to carry on at this difficult time with his numerous TV appearences and romantic life.

Mr opik also gives a breakdown of all his expenses including staff costs travel allowance and so on.
But also calls for the expense system to be scrapped or at least reformed but only if an increase in MP's basic salary is applied.

What doesn't appear in the County Times is the renumeration Lembit recieves from his other consultancy jobs including -

1. Remunerated directorships
West European Air Services Ltd; aircraft management services and brokerage for local air charter company.
2. Remunerated employment, office, profession etc
Parliamentary adviser to the Caravan Club of Great Britain. (£5,001-£10,000)
Training for the National School of Government. (Up to £5,000)
Broadcasting fees from the BBC. (Up to £5,000)
Journalism for the Daily Sport. (Up to £5,000)
Fees from ITV for television appearances. (£5,001-£10,000)
Fees for training work for Luther Pendragon.
5. Gifts, benefits and hospitality (UK)
Loan of a Segway Personal Transporter from Segway, and subsequent purchase at a preferential rate. (Registered 19 November 2008)
9. Registrable shareholdings
(a) West European Air Services Ltd.


All in all it totals at least another £35,000 to his MP renumeration and is also more than he claimed during the last year for his second home.

So for all his self pity and innocence and claiming of not wrong doing he has done rather well out of the tax payer.