Romsey's Liberal Democrat MP Sandra Gidley order to apologise to House of Commons (From This is Hampshire)
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Romsey's Liberal Democrat MP Sandra Gidley order to apologise to House of Commons
12:18pm Friday 19th March 2010 in
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- By Jon Reeve » Education Reporter
A HAMPSHIRE MP has been ordered to apologise to the House of Commons and repay cash over their second home in London.
Romsey and Southampton North representative Sandra Gidley is one of four Lib Dem MPs who showed "serious misjudgement" according to the findings of an inquiry published today.
The group, which also includes John Barrett, Paul Holmes and Richard Younger-Ross, all received cash from the landlord of taxpayer-funded second homes in Westminster.
The House of Commons standards and privileges committee has ordered them to repay that money, which relates to flats in Dolphin Square, which is near Parliament.
No action was recommended on lesser ''misjudgements'' by Sir Alan Beith and former party leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who were tenants at the same block.
The six referred themselves to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards after a national newspaper reported that at least 13 MPs had received ''windfalls'' for giving up their rights to cheap rents in the block following its sale to a private company in 2005.
The paper said that a number of those who took the money then stayed on in the block - which was previously owned by a non-profit making trust - leaving the taxpayer to pick up the cost of the higher rentals.
In its report, the committee said that the public purse should not have lost out as a result of MPs accepting offers from Dolphin Square.
''We consider that Members should have sought official advice at the time the offers were made and we are surprised that none of the six who referred themselves did so,'' it said.
''If Members had sought advice in writing, they should have been advised to recognise the contribution made from public funds to the position they were in and to have paid a proportion of any windfall payment to the House.
''However, those who kept the payment and achieved a saving to public funds are, in our judgement, in a different position from those who kept it but did not achieve a saving, or who added to public expenditure.''
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg today said the six had acted promptly in referring themselves to the committee, and challenged Labour and Tory MPs who also had homes at Dolphin Square to do the same.
Comments(38)
St.DaveH
says...
12:28pm Fri 19 Mar 10
hulla baloo
says...
12:30pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Maybe the Echo could do a follow up and ask her if it is forthcoming.
Come on Echo, do a bit of story following and journalism
DCM
says...
1:00pm Fri 19 Mar 10
forest hump
says...
1:07pm Fri 19 Mar 10
falling_link
says...
1:09pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Shoddy journalism again from the daily echo.
bpsaint
says...
1:09pm Fri 19 Mar 10
hulla baloo wrote:Yes, I'm still waiting for her to apologise for her disgraceful comments about the police too. Unfortunately people like Sandra Gidley and her like in the Lib Dems take great delight in criticizing the police whilst being soft on criminals as their policies prove, eg their attitude to drug dealers and restricting the powers of courts to jail them, wanting less harsh sentences for prolific criminals, wanting to give the vote to prisoners in jail including murderes and rapists. These days voting for the Lib Dems literally does mean a vote for criminals.
Am still waiting for her apology about her comments following the bank robbery shootings in Chandlers Ford. Maybe the Echo could do a follow up and ask her if it is forthcoming. Come on Echo, do a bit of story following and journalism
Linesman
says...
1:30pm Fri 19 Mar 10
falling_link wrote:"The six referred themselves to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards AFTER a national newspaper reported that at least 12 MPs had received 'windfalls'......."
Look at this story realistically, Sandra Gidley was one of the four liberal democrat MP's who acknowledged this and put their own names forward. No deception there, unlike the many Tory and Labour MP's who refused to put their name in for investigation regarding Dolphins Square. Shoddy journalism again from the daily echo.
Looking at the story 'realistically' as you suggest, I wonder whether she would have referred herself to that commissioner if a national newspaper had not run the story!
Despite her 'holier than thou' attitude on so many subjects, I somehow doubt that she would.
goard
says...
1:49pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Linesman
says...
2:00pm Fri 19 Mar 10
goard wrote:Or could it be that she is the same as the rest?
It saddens me that Sandra Gidley has fallen into the honey pot trap. I like to think the best of her as she has worked hard to represent and put forward the constituants' wishes. I suppose when trouble hits 'our patch' we like to search for reasons why this has happened; was it bad advice from an Advisor, maybe somebody within Westminster, or perhaps a solicitor/accountant therein. If this is the case then these 'advisors' should be ferreted out. I like to see the best in everyone until I know otherwise.
In a different line of work it would be called, 'taking back-handers'!
falling_link
says...
2:06pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Although this is happened, I still think and feel the same way: Sandra Gidley is a hard working MP who made a mistake. This blip will not have any effect on my vote come election day, as I know she will continue her hard work.
St.DaveH
says...
2:26pm Fri 19 Mar 10
falling_link wrote:I thought that, but nows she is in the same bucket as all the other self centered public deceivers.....
I can't see how this is worse than an MP being allowed to make a profit on a second home if they brought rather than rented. Although this is happened, I still think and feel the same way: Sandra Gidley is a hard working MP who made a mistake. This blip will not have any effect on my vote come election day, as I know she will continue her hard work.
TEBOURBA
says...
2:27pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Will Carson
says...
2:28pm Fri 19 Mar 10
falling_link wrote:Last paragraph of the story...
Look at this story realistically, Sandra Gidley was one of the four liberal democrat MP's who acknowledged this and put their own names forward. No deception there, unlike the many Tory and Labour MP's who refused to put their name in for investigation regarding Dolphins Square.
Shoddy journalism again from the daily echo.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg today said the six had acted promptly in referring themselves to the committee, and challenged Labour and Tory MPs who also had homes at Dolphin Square to do the same.
bpsaint
says...
3:08pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Linesman wrote:You're right Linesman, she does have a holier than thou attitude in much the same way Chris "Trouser Press" Huhne does, but at the end of the day, they are all the same. Time for a change at the election.
falling_link wrote: Look at this story realistically, Sandra Gidley was one of the four liberal democrat MP's who acknowledged this and put their own names forward. No deception there, unlike the many Tory and Labour MP's who refused to put their name in for investigation regarding Dolphins Square. Shoddy journalism again from the daily echo."The six referred themselves to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards AFTER a national newspaper reported that at least 12 MPs had received 'windfalls'......." Looking at the story 'realistically' as you suggest, I wonder whether she would have referred herself to that commissioner if a national newspaper had not run the story! Despite her 'holier than thou' attitude on so many subjects, I somehow doubt that she would.
forest hump
says...
3:18pm Fri 19 Mar 10
mack chinnon
says...
3:27pm Fri 19 Mar 10
falling_link wrote:Are you Mr Gidley?
Look at this story realistically, Sandra Gidley was one of the four liberal democrat MP's who acknowledged this and put their own names forward. No deception there, unlike the many Tory and Labour MP's who refused to put their name in for investigation regarding Dolphins Square. Shoddy journalism again from the daily echo.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
4:07pm Fri 19 Mar 10
OSPREYSAINT
says...
4:07pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Linesman
says...
4:08pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Will Carson wrote:In the words of Mandy Rice-Davis, 'He would say that, wouldn't he!'
falling_link wrote: Look at this story realistically, Sandra Gidley was one of the four liberal democrat MP's who acknowledged this and put their own names forward. No deception there, unlike the many Tory and Labour MP's who refused to put their name in for investigation regarding Dolphins Square. Shoddy journalism again from the daily echo.Last paragraph of the story... Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg today said the six had acted promptly in referring themselves to the committee, and challenged Labour and Tory MPs who also had homes at Dolphin Square to do the same.
Nick Clegg is attempting to make them look virtuous, after they had been caught out!
Being blunt, they accepted a bribe!
If falling_link has a more acceptable description, I would be interested to hear it!
hulla baloo
says...
4:09pm Fri 19 Mar 10
falling_link wrote:No deception?
Look at this story realistically, Sandra Gidley was one of the four liberal democrat MP's who acknowledged this and put their own names forward. No deception there, unlike the many Tory and Labour MP's who refused to put their name in for investigation regarding Dolphins Square. Shoddy journalism again from the daily echo.
How about the fact that she fiddled expenses.
She only put her name forward to try and look better before she was exposed to it.
Very similar to all the others, but they get away with an 'oversight' or 'mistake'. Joe public is prosecuted for theft.
Roy S
says...
4:53pm Fri 19 Mar 10
2 Gidley and others only turned themselves in after a National newspaper exposed them.
3 If they had not been shown for what they are, would they have admitted it.
4 It was in the public interest to keep the rent down as low as possible since we the tax payers are paying for their second homes...
gillyman
says...
5:16pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Redback
says...
5:18pm Fri 19 Mar 10
"as a woman travelling alone late at night I feel safer in first, particularly on the later trains when there are often a number of people who have been drinking."
Heaven forbid that she have to live in the same world as the rest of us.
Bartat
says...
5:30pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Read the Telegraph and if Lyon is forced to release the information someone is in for a roller-coaster ride.
Stuffing machines, office expenses, who else used the flat(s) - all will come out in the wash!
Owl
says...
6:21pm Fri 19 Mar 10
TEBOURBA wrote:The Romsey and district voters will be spoilt for choice with candidates from the other honest and trustworthy main parties to choose from! (Security words late-vote)
Not long now before the voters of Romsey can kick her out bag and baggage!
Militant Ford Worker
says...
8:06pm Fri 19 Mar 10
hulla baloo wrote:And I am still waiting for an apology for her flippant comments re 'inevitable' job losses at Ford made while casually munching on an apple.
Am still waiting for her apology about her comments following the bank robbery shootings in Chandlers Ford.
Maybe the Echo could do a follow up and ask her if it is forthcoming.
Come on Echo, do a bit of story following and journalism
There's nothing like fighting for your constituents jobs and yes, that was nothing like it.
forest hump
says...
9:14pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Militant Ford Worker wrote:Totally agree! Wannabe thespians: all of them. As someone quoted (can't remember who?) they are too ugly to be actors, so they chose politics! Shame on them all.
hulla baloo wrote: Am still waiting for her apology about her comments following the bank robbery shootings in Chandlers Ford. Maybe the Echo could do a follow up and ask her if it is forthcoming. Come on Echo, do a bit of story following and journalismAnd I am still waiting for an apology for her flippant comments re 'inevitable' job losses at Ford made while casually munching on an apple. There's nothing like fighting for your constituents jobs and yes, that was nothing like it.
vj32
says...
9:55pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Linesman
says...
8:22am Sat 20 Mar 10
vj32 wrote:My understanding is that she accepted a bribe!
Has anyone read the full report from the Commission? Personally I consider it a mis-judgement, as she should have sought advice from the fees office(?) before accepting the money, but she has made no personal gain, unlike all those people whose mortgages we are funding as tax payers. Crap reporting by the Echo, which doesn't even comment on Sandra Gidley's case, but takes quotations from the summary. So clearly no-one at the Echo has read the report either.
How else could it be described?
JaneNB
says...
8:56am Sat 20 Mar 10
In most walks of life a "serious misjudgement" would require that person to resign. Gidley reacted at last nights Romsey meeting with the public, by not even apologizing to her constituents. She expressed no regret over her action and instead effectively said that it was not so bad as other MPs had done worse!
As if a thief found guilty says they have not done as bad as a murderer and they did at least turn up for the trial.
Where is the contrition?
But the Echo and Romsey Advertiser also lack the cojones to hold her to account for this major failing.
forest hump
says...
9:09am Sat 20 Mar 10
vj32 wrote:How can you be so naive? Oh! you are probably related to said Gidley or actually her. Hang your head in shame if you condone this behaivour.
Has anyone read the full report from the Commission? Personally I consider it a mis-judgement, as she should have sought advice from the fees office(?) before accepting the money, but she has made no personal gain, unlike all those people whose mortgages we are funding as tax payers. Crap reporting by the Echo, which doesn't even comment on Sandra Gidley's case, but takes quotations from the summary. So clearly no-one at the Echo has read the report either.
JaneNB
says...
11:40am Sat 20 Mar 10
http://tinyurl.com/y
jb5o78
What the Commission wrote "We conclude that Ms Gidley made a serious misjudgement when she decided to accept the principal offer of a lump sum without sharing it with the public purse and that in doing so she breached the Code of Conduct by putting her personal interest before the public interest."
vj32
says...
12:46pm Sat 20 Mar 10
goard
says...
2:00pm Sat 20 Mar 10
goard
JaneNB
says...
6:35pm Sat 20 Mar 10
She may well have been nice to some respondents but she has made a "serious misjudgement".
"Being nice" is a plea given when mitigating a sentence.
Are her local party going to have a reselection meeting? What punishment is her party going to give her? Or do they not care about the principle involved of acting in the public interest? Have the Lib Dems punished any of their MPs for acting against the public interest?
warness
says...
10:52pm Sat 20 Mar 10
I too have a flat paid for me by my company, for my weekly visits to south Wales.
If I was given a cash incentive to change flats, I would refer the matter to the company accountant for her decision. If I didn't, I would demand to be sacked.
JaneNB
says...
12:17pm Sun 21 Mar 10
What is so odd is that the Liberal Democrats see little wrong with the actions of these 4 and their political opponents probably want the MPs in place so that they have a better chance of winning the seat at the GE. But how any Liberal Democrat can campaign or deliver a leaflet for people so tainted is a puzzle. The Duck House MP was "fired" as a candidate the next day for sums much less than this.
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St.DaveH says...
12:27pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Oh 1st.