Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15486792

Gobsmacked is an understatement..

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Absolutely shocking.:mad:

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Well, considering how much they cost the country when in power, I'm actually up for helping to foot this bill, provided they promise never to run for office again..

In fact, any chance we can get the current liability removed and signed up for something similar, while we can still afford to?

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

I take it you mean that for all of them ??

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Of course.:)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

No wonder thatcher is always attending events when almost dead, she gets paid for it.

This is truly shocking especially from thatcher as she was an advocate of trimming costs.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

They probably make a fortune in appearance money as well.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Blair definitely, Major perhaps, Thatcher, erm no.....

I wonder if that money includes security costs?

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Can only hope:erm:

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

You sure about that.;)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Yes... link

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Don't forget. We're all in it together.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Not in the last year or so but before that well that is open to debate.:)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Well I think we should ask what were the expensive for first.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Well thats what politicians of all parties tell us but trouble is that saying it is one thing for politicians but doing it is another kettle of fish altogether.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Did you read the link?

It was dated 2002.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Yes l did read the link but missed the date so l think l need a new pair of glasses.:dozey::D

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Not in the last year or so? According to Hugh's link she gave up public speaking almost 10 years ago. ;)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

So what would the £535,000 be for then in the last 5 years.:)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Her health care:erm:

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Thats a astronimical amount for her healthcare would you not say.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

I would not give her or Scargill anything at all . Apart from a match and some wood:)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Excuse me lets not just concentrate on Mrs T as Blair hasn't exactly shy about using it.

I wonder if Brown has any intention of applying?

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

As far as l am concerned they are all as bad as each other but because of the title of the thread we have tended to focus on Maggie more.:)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Public Duties Allowance - Hansard

It is not for public appearances.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Quote:

Since 1991, former Prime Ministers have been entitled to a Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA) to assist with additional office costs which they are liable to incur because of their special position in public life (not payable if the individual also occupies the position of Leader of the Opposition). The allowance was £52,760 (from 1 April 2001), equal in amount to the Members’ Office Cost Allowance. It was increased to £70,000 on 19 July 2001, following the introduction of new staffing allowances for Members of Parliament. From April 2002 the allowance was increased to £72,310, remaining in line with the new staffing allowance figure

Quote:

for Members of Parliament. The current allowance is £90,854.

link

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

One does wonder what public duties she performs (to the tune of £100k per annum) 20 years after leaving office.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Mr Cameron :erm:

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Now now, I'm sure she provides tremendous value for money...

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

In fairness, I would think that some expense is justifiable for a period of time after leaving office. Perhaps a part-time PA to deal with correspondence, perhaps some modest office costs. But £100k per annum? For life? I find that hard to justify.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

But it would appear to consist mostly, if not entirely, of an allowance at a fixed rate - not expenses claimed as incurred. So to be fair to the Iron Lady, she doesn't need to prove she's done £500k of work. It's just a payment she's entitled to.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Fixed payment, I thought most pensioners receiving state cash were means tested these days.... :angel: :D

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Erm no. If it was an allowance, no evidence would be required.

From Hugh's quote:

I doubt that the documentary evidence is to show the person in question was an MP. It's expenses...

As a side note: Is there any reason why these expenses (reasonable or not) could not be met by the party involved?

I'm quite willing to accept that an outgoing PM still has job-related expenses, but it would seem just that the party decides the level and duration. Let them pay what they feel appropriate given the standing of the person involved.

Oh, and seeing the're expenses, and not an allowance: no tax is due (presumably)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

No, lets concentrate on all of them. They earn a huge sum of money for just public speaking, they have a huge pension, so why on earth do they need to spend more of the tax payers money?

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

"They" don't - "some of them" do.....

If it is in line with the guidelines above, they should get paid - or do you think that, when you retire, and you are asked to do something on behalf of your previous employer, you should do it for free?

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

I don't think that but I do think that this amounts to a second pension scheme in that the amounts being paid are too high for attending the occasional dinner or meeting.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

The atttending occasional dinner or meeting is, IMHO, speculation.

As posted above, it is paid in respect of office and secretarial expenses incurred by former Prime Ministers in connection with their public duties.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Ahh the Iron Lady, she still really upsets people even after all this time.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

i read somewhere that for blair alone it costs the taxpayer around £2million a year in security as the same post posed the question should the tax payer be paying when he had earned around £15 million in the same year.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

I'm talking about ex-prime ministers, who will all get appearance money, and will all get a full pension after just 12 years as an MP.

When they have retired, then it is up to them if they do public speaking or not. They aren't obliged to do it, they choose to do it either for money, for the love of it, or for their ego. But either way, why should the tax payer foot the bill for someone who is no longer in office to talk to a group of people?

We have to remember that they are no longer in office because the country didn't want them there.

---------- Post added at 13:13 ---------- Previous post was at 13:12 ----------

They don't have any public duties once they have retired.

---------- Post added at 13:16 ---------- Previous post was at 13:13 ----------

Exactly. If they want to continue earning money through public speaking etc, then they can do it as a business, and pay for their own security.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Thatcher doesn't, because she can't, do public speaking, and hasn't since 2002 (hence the "some of them" qualifier).

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

But she did, and she still claimed the money off the tax payer. So she is still included.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

This totally disgraceful, when you leave public office such as these politicians, it should not be up to the tax payer to keep paying them money.

They have earn't enough through us, that they should pay there own way, its like us, when we leave a job, its up to us to pay our own way.

These politicians earn a get deal through 'after dinner speeches' and with that old lady, she probably speaks at old peoples homes on how to save money on the old age pension.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

There is a difference between Public Duties and public appearances - you appear to be conflating them.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

No I'm not. As someone who is retired they aren't obliged to carry out any public duties or appearances. They do it out of choice, and usually to make money. They have an excellent pension, and can earn their own money as a business. The tax payer shouldn't have to foot the bill.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

She's worth a £1 million, I say double her allowance.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

There are some posts that just need to be ignored!!!!!

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

I'm wondering how ex PMs managed before John Major set this up in 1999?

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

They must have saved for a rainy day:erm:

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

I am not against former pms recieveing money to help with running office costs per-se,but this did seem to be rather a lot for ex pm duties,surely though she of for that fact any other pm could ask for donations from rich buisinessmen or supporters rather then take tax payers money,just a thought though.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

And then they get slated for that......

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Yes thats true Hugh the thought arose that when pms are in power they have no shortage of rich business people hanging around perhaps they could help them out afterwards, or supporters,but i guess its a case of its dammed if you do or not on this one.;)

I think though without getting too political Magaret Thatcher is a contraversial character in power and out for good or bad ,which is why most people have a strong opinion.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

They all get well paid well been in office so why do they not save for when they are out of office? It seems the same story as footballers as all they want is a lavish lifestyle and do not care about when it ends?
Why do they need to claim money when their job is done. They get paid for the public speaking. They should pay for their own Security, Transport etc?

Rant over

---------- Post added at 17:08 ---------- Previous post was at 17:04 ----------

Yes very true and if people want to know why I feel like I do just watch "Brassed Off" as that was filmed near to where I live (about 10 minute drive)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Yes i know why you feel like you do about her i am thinking you live in the heart of a former mining area ,a lot of mining areas were turned into deserts where close knit communties some would say were destroyed,although Arthur Scargill helped her on her way sadly.:(

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

It's nothing at all to do with that. It's the fact that someone who is no longer in office is paid by the tax payer for duties that they aren't obliged to carry out. They make enough money from their pension, and from appearance money.

There are stong opinions because in a time when there are huge cut backs in spending, the likes of John Major and Tony Blair are STILL taking tax payers money that they don't need, and shouldn't be entitled to.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Tony Blair does not need it for sure,John Major not sure how rich he is as a ex pm.

I guess all ex pm get letters that are questions on their public time in office,i did suggest though all such offices could be run by donation private or personal and not tax payers as one potential solution,as the amount did seem quite high!especially as they all bang on about "value for tax payers money" especially Mrs Thatcher.

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Indeed there is ;)

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Yes you hit the nail on the head of where I live (the NUM headquarters are based in Barnsley where I live). So As you say I hate her and also Scargill as they both decimated the area where I live. They will both be **** in my eyes:mad:

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Do not blame you one bit they both played their parts although i bet thatcher could hardly believe her luck she was facing scargill and not the wiley old bird of the NUM Joe Gormley,who woud have played it very differently.:(

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

Yes very true, I was a child growing up during the Miners strike and can remember going with my Father to the Red Cross (I think) to get blocks of cheese/ bread/Butter. Also my partner can remember her father doing sausage casserole and also having to go to parties where she got used second hand toys as presents?

Thatcher and Scargill were in bed together through it all:mad:

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

There's an image that will haunt me for quite a while.......

Re: Margaret Thatcher claims £535,000 for ex-PM duties
 

You can guarantee that none of them are short of money. If people want to donate money to them, then that's up to them. But they aren't obliged to carry out any duties as an ex pm. And they aren't obliged to answer any letters.

They are no longer in office, but they still benefit from their previous post by the fact that they will be in huge demand as a public speaker. And they will earn a huge profit from this. The tax payer no longer wants them as a pm, and so they are essentially sacked.

If someone had worked in an industry for many years, and had become an expert in their field, then they may also earn money either as a consultant or giving talks on that subject, and they would be paid for it. But how many businesses continue to pay people huge salaries after they have been sacked??