Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

I think we got a nice pleasant chap in Michael, a dignified old gentleman with a good sense of humour Annie, the best of the bunch that were on offer.

Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

Former prime minister Lady Thatcher has claimed more than half a million pounds of taxpayers' cash in the last five years, the Government has revealed.

The 86-year-old Baroness, who is rarely seen in public and suffers ongoing health problems, benefited from the public duties cost allowance available to ex-PMs.


Since 2006, she has claimed a total of £535,000 in state handouts.

I rest my case Rena darlin' - the sooner we get rid of the 'Capitalists and establish a truly Socialist Republic the better - even Mr & Mrs Windsor have jumped on the gravy train!!!

Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

And of course Blair and Co are so much better aren't they? He's claimed nearly 200 grand under this scheme since retiring.
Prescott has a £1.5 million pension pot and Kinnock and his missus get 180 grand a year pension.

They're all as bad.

Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

I quite agree Paul maul matey - stand 'em all against the wall and give me an AK 47 and I'll dispose of all of 'em!!!

Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

I didn't know about the public duties cost allowance paid by the taxpayer. and I am somewhat surprised and I don't understand why the taxpayer should be paying for this. If an ex PM does a bit of public speaking at the invitation of an organisation, then surely the organisation inviting them to speak should pay the costs, not the taxpayer.
In Maggie's case the allowance seems even more inappropriate and greedy because she is rarely seen in public - where does she do all this public speaking - in her kitchen, or when she is talking to her cat !!!!!

Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

I wasn't aware ex MPs could received 'cost allowances'
Can't think why they should, what a waste of money .

Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

It gets even worse: Did anyone else on here know this ???

"The monarchy has no power" is a line we often hear, yet today the Guardian has revealed that Charles's lobbying goes well beyond his persistent letter-writing to ministers. He has actual constitutional power to veto and amend legislation in a range of key areas.

Charles could have done the decent thing and refused to use this undemocratic power - but of course he relishes in his role as heir-apparent and has felt fully entitled to use his powers. Unfortunately the government refuses to say on what occassions and with what results the prince has influenced policy and legislation.

Now can you all understand why I am a Republican and want to see an end of unconstitional and undemocratic oiks like Charlie meddling in our political affairs.

Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

I have just done a bit of research and apparently after a series of small strokes in March 2002 Maggie Thatcher announced that she had resigned from public speaking - How can she have been entitled to claim any public speaking allowance over the last 5 years.
My source of information is from a Biography printed in the Margaret Thatcher Foundation (website).

Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

I had no idea that this was happening. When my mother in law applied for attendance allowance because she just couldn't help herself always and lives alone they put her through a means test to make sure she didn't have a certain amount of savings. She is 83, I wonder how much ma Thatcher is worth.

Re: It goes on and on - they never get off the gravy train

The day she finally 'pops her clogs' - they'll be street parties up and down the country - one song will be echoed from those parties - from the film 'The Wizard of Oz' - "Ding, dong the Witch is Dead".