This was the headline in the local paper today. It is a reference to the fact that Adrian Sanders has over the last 4 years claimed £15 000 for food as s serving MP. When asked about the amount he is reported to have replied, "It only works out at 20 quid a day." True, but £20 a day seems to be a bit more that I spend on food. So unless Adrian has a second life as a mysterious benefactor who wanders the streets of London by night giving down and outs meat pies and cups of coffee how could he be spending so much on food? Actually when you think about it is quiet easy. Imagine; he gets up in the morning in his 9th floor London flat 250 miles from all the home comforts and doesn't have time to cook, or maybe he can't cook. So he nips into the local cafe and orders a full breakfast plus and extra cup of coffee. £5.00. Then down to the House for a mornings work. What exactly do MPs do, they don't spend all day debating? Eventually lunch time comes along so he wonders into the canteen and has lunch. Now I can go in probably the best pub in Torquay, The Cider Press, and have a good, sustaining lunch for about 5 or 6 pounds, a pint on top will set me back an other £3 but Adrian has still a busy afternoon in front of him so he almost certainly does without the pint. So we still have 9 or ten pounds left to spend. The idea of getting back to his lonely flat and cooking a meal doesn't really appeal, especially if the debate has gone on longer than hoped. So a take away on the way home is the solution and maybe a bottle of wine, though I have to say I have no idea if Adrian likes a drink or not. But once you add it all up we are as close to 20 quid as make not a jot of difference. So what's all the moaning in the Herald Express about. The poor man has to keep his strength up and food is the best option when it comes to keeping one's strength up. Better than an intravenous drip and much more practical. I’m on your side Adrian.
Erm, err..... hang on a moment, let me just give that a little though, maybe run the above around my head a couple of times before I press the Publish button. Hang on a moment, I’ll be back.
Yes, I knew there was something nagging away in the dark place I call my brain. The claims Mr Sanders made for all this food came in the Expenses Form marked “Additional Costs Allowance.” Also in this section are his claims for the rent on a second home. Now no one can expect Mr Sanders to go home everyday after work it’s 250 miles home and then 250 miles back to work the next day. So he needs a second home, that’s why it’s called additional costs. So as a MP he has two homes but does he also have two appetites? If he is in London he can not be at home in Paignton eating can he Where ever he is he can only eat once. So how can food be considered an additional cost?
PS I should point out that Adrian isn’t the only MP claiming for food but lets hope the new rules Gordon Brown is busy setting up make it clear that food, like duck islands, is not an additional cost, not if my taxpound is going to pay for it anyway.
Erm, err..... hang on a moment, let me just give that a little though, maybe run the above around my head a couple of times before I press the Publish button. Hang on a moment, I’ll be back.
Yes, I knew there was something nagging away in the dark place I call my brain. The claims Mr Sanders made for all this food came in the Expenses Form marked “Additional Costs Allowance.” Also in this section are his claims for the rent on a second home. Now no one can expect Mr Sanders to go home everyday after work it’s 250 miles home and then 250 miles back to work the next day. So he needs a second home, that’s why it’s called additional costs. So as a MP he has two homes but does he also have two appetites? If he is in London he can not be at home in Paignton eating can he Where ever he is he can only eat once. So how can food be considered an additional cost?
PS I should point out that Adrian isn’t the only MP claiming for food but lets hope the new rules Gordon Brown is busy setting up make it clear that food, like duck islands, is not an additional cost, not if my taxpound is going to pay for it anyway.
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