Last word from me as it’s obviously fine to disagree.Rileybobs wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:56 pmYou’re straying off point though. I criticised the pillorying of footballer numerous times on here, particularly from people on relative high salaries themselves. That really has little to do with the issue in hand.
I think it’s perfectly reasonable that any employees, whether they be public servants or working in the private sector, are able to claim for additional costs incurred when working away from the office.
I see where you’re coming from but why should the MP’s have to pay for new IT, stationery etc? Even the electricity you mention, if it costs an MP a measly additional £20 more per month and their two staff the same then why shouldn’t they be able to claim for that £60 per month?
I didn’t have a desk at home. My bedrooms are all used as bedrooms and with a child at home our open plan kitchen/dining room wasn’t ideal. So I worked for a week using an ironing board as a desk!! Why shouldn’t I have the correct equipment to be able to perform my job properly?
I mentioned footballers because Hancock - an MP and member of the government did - days before they grant this expense....if he is taking about high earners making sacrifices then I’m sure MPs and their staff can afford a few quid for electricity especially as they have to be at home anyway and are saving money from not travelling.
But not only are they not prepared to sacrifice - they get the opportunity to claim expenses for it.
As for a desk - I’ll say it again it’s not 1988. I’m sure they have a table from one of their houses or 2 knees to rest their laptop on.
Maybe they can put in a claim for an extra pair of corduroy trousers as their knees will be worn out from the computer in a few days time ?
It’s completely the wrong message and if one of their staff genuinely had to buy an extra piece of equipment then they could have done this without the additional budget announcement - and there travel costs should be reduced to an extent that it would probably be easily covered. The first class train fare to London is several hundred a day, hotel fees, food - all being saved. More than enough to cover any necessary costs from working at home which at a very worst case scenario would not be more than £50 extra a month.
No need to respond - I get your position.