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Saturday 28 March 2009
Monday 23 March 2009
Housing Allowances for UK Member’s of Parliament
I listened to BBC R4’s world at one as the rights and wrongs of MP’s Housing Allowance claims were discussed. The latest culprit is the Work minister Mr McNulty who is said to have claimed in excess of £60000 since 2002 for using his parent’s home that is only 11 miles from the House of Commons!
As I listened I couldn’t help but wonder if some of the rules that apply to those in receipt of Housing benefit (housing allowance mostly for those out of work or low income) would go some way to resolving this issue once and for all.
Why?
If you apply for this type of Housing Allowance you have to provide proof that you liable for rent at the address for which you are claiming.
If you are a parent claiming this allowance you have to prove that household members are not what is referred to as non-dependants (mostly adults that should be at work all things being equal).
The person they were interviewing (I am afraid his name escapes me) seemed to be surprised that an MP should claim a Housing Allowance and yet the House for which he is claiming is his parent’s home.
I did wonder if the MP’s parents are in receipt of Housing Benefit and therefore they would have to declare that their non- dependant son, leaves with them for part of the week. Just a thought
And the other rule of course is which home counts as your principal home. I do wonder whether this is where it goes so wrong for MP’s. Cant’ they tell which home they can and can’t claim a Housing Allowance for?
Other folk would not get away with claiming on two homes, exception is only made in very rare/ exceptional circumstances.
What do you think?
As I listened I couldn’t help but wonder if some of the rules that apply to those in receipt of Housing benefit (housing allowance mostly for those out of work or low income) would go some way to resolving this issue once and for all.
Why?
If you apply for this type of Housing Allowance you have to provide proof that you liable for rent at the address for which you are claiming.
If you are a parent claiming this allowance you have to prove that household members are not what is referred to as non-dependants (mostly adults that should be at work all things being equal).
The person they were interviewing (I am afraid his name escapes me) seemed to be surprised that an MP should claim a Housing Allowance and yet the House for which he is claiming is his parent’s home.
I did wonder if the MP’s parents are in receipt of Housing Benefit and therefore they would have to declare that their non- dependant son, leaves with them for part of the week. Just a thought
And the other rule of course is which home counts as your principal home. I do wonder whether this is where it goes so wrong for MP’s. Cant’ they tell which home they can and can’t claim a Housing Allowance for?
Other folk would not get away with claiming on two homes, exception is only made in very rare/ exceptional circumstances.
What do you think?
Wednesday 18 March 2009
JADE GOODY: Is there such a thing as a useless person?
An odd question you might think and according to my late grandmother the answer to this question is NO.
My grandmother was an interesting woman and had a real interest in people. Her home was always full of people from all walks of life, mostly refugees from Rwanda.
When she became frail she moved in with us. I remember my brother getting a lecture from Grand ma, who had overheard him describe someone as "useless and a complete waste of space".
"There is no such thing as a a useless person, every person on earth is valuable and useful, Our challenge is to discover that" she told my siblings and I time and time again.
For some reason I have found myself preoccupied with these words recently, as I have followed the news about Jade Goody. I am not a fan Big Brother and that kind of television, so I had no idea who this girl was until the Shilpa Shetty affair, and the effect it had on channel 4, by way of complaints.
I recall asking a friend what the point of Jade Goody is having seen a clip on the news where she appeared to have lost it completely as she "tore" into Shilpa. My friend's response was "she was on Big Brother" Oh Well!
There has been a lot of news about Jade as she battles with terminal cancer, the rights and wrongs of her decisions to sell her story.
However one particular news item about Jade stopped me in tracks.It was reported on ITV news that by agreeing to live out her days in the public, she has encouraged many women to go for a cervical smear test, the numbers of women turning up for these tests have been so great that the NHS and the government jointly could not have achieved them.
And that will be her legacy or the POINT of Jade Goody!
So you see my grandmother was right all along every person is valuable, there is no such a thing as a useless person and our challenge is to discover that in others!
My grandmother was an interesting woman and had a real interest in people. Her home was always full of people from all walks of life, mostly refugees from Rwanda.
When she became frail she moved in with us. I remember my brother getting a lecture from Grand ma, who had overheard him describe someone as "useless and a complete waste of space".
"There is no such thing as a a useless person, every person on earth is valuable and useful, Our challenge is to discover that" she told my siblings and I time and time again.
For some reason I have found myself preoccupied with these words recently, as I have followed the news about Jade Goody. I am not a fan Big Brother and that kind of television, so I had no idea who this girl was until the Shilpa Shetty affair, and the effect it had on channel 4, by way of complaints.
I recall asking a friend what the point of Jade Goody is having seen a clip on the news where she appeared to have lost it completely as she "tore" into Shilpa. My friend's response was "she was on Big Brother" Oh Well!
There has been a lot of news about Jade as she battles with terminal cancer, the rights and wrongs of her decisions to sell her story.
However one particular news item about Jade stopped me in tracks.It was reported on ITV news that by agreeing to live out her days in the public, she has encouraged many women to go for a cervical smear test, the numbers of women turning up for these tests have been so great that the NHS and the government jointly could not have achieved them.
And that will be her legacy or the POINT of Jade Goody!
So you see my grandmother was right all along every person is valuable, there is no such a thing as a useless person and our challenge is to discover that in others!
Monday 16 March 2009
What a civilised way to pass the weekend
I had a fantastic weekend of Jazz, rugby and fashion
Elmbridge fashion show started on 13 and ended on 15 March.
African fashion accessories and ethical clothing from Ethnic Supplies were included and showcased on 14th
We got a fab review from the audience but what I had not anticipated was being asked to be one of the models for Ethnic Supplies. The best thing about this show was local people from all walks of life regardless of age size or colour were given the chance to walk the Catwalk and show case fashion from local Shops.I will post the photos as soon as I get them
Rugby, well what can I say, I don't think the Welsh deserved to win and felt sorry for the Italians who tried so hard.The English/French game, was amazing too, although I found the first part rather dull. The English team looked like a born again team. I have not seen them play so well or certainly score that many points against the French team.
After the Rugby it was time to hit the road to Riverhouse in Walton on Thames where I caught up with Ulla from Denmark and the others for an evening of live jazz. On stage was this man http://www.tonywoods.org/ with his band.
I never thought I would ever enjoy modern jazz as I did. Tony is so talented, he switched between the Sax to the flute to sometthing that looked like a hollowed out bamboo stick and something else that looked like a hollowed out squash.
Really fabulous stuff from these guys and if you can catch them please do. Milo Fell was superb on the drums too, he too had several implements whose names I don't know
but they served to improve the sound.
There had to a downside to this though, and it was the people who came to listen to the jazz but decided to talk amongst themselves for
the duration of the second half, ruining it all for everyone.
I always wondered what these sorts of people have to say to each other that either can't wait of that could not have been said before the show. They irriated Ulla no end and at one point I thought she was going to say something to them
In all all a thoroughly enjoyable weekend
How was your weekend?
Elmbridge fashion show started on 13 and ended on 15 March.
African fashion accessories and ethical clothing from Ethnic Supplies were included and showcased on 14th
We got a fab review from the audience but what I had not anticipated was being asked to be one of the models for Ethnic Supplies. The best thing about this show was local people from all walks of life regardless of age size or colour were given the chance to walk the Catwalk and show case fashion from local Shops.I will post the photos as soon as I get them
Rugby, well what can I say, I don't think the Welsh deserved to win and felt sorry for the Italians who tried so hard.The English/French game, was amazing too, although I found the first part rather dull. The English team looked like a born again team. I have not seen them play so well or certainly score that many points against the French team.
After the Rugby it was time to hit the road to Riverhouse in Walton on Thames where I caught up with Ulla from Denmark and the others for an evening of live jazz. On stage was this man http://www.tonywoods.org/ with his band.
I never thought I would ever enjoy modern jazz as I did. Tony is so talented, he switched between the Sax to the flute to sometthing that looked like a hollowed out bamboo stick and something else that looked like a hollowed out squash.
Really fabulous stuff from these guys and if you can catch them please do. Milo Fell was superb on the drums too, he too had several implements whose names I don't know
but they served to improve the sound.
There had to a downside to this though, and it was the people who came to listen to the jazz but decided to talk amongst themselves for
the duration of the second half, ruining it all for everyone.
I always wondered what these sorts of people have to say to each other that either can't wait of that could not have been said before the show. They irriated Ulla no end and at one point I thought she was going to say something to them
In all all a thoroughly enjoyable weekend
How was your weekend?
Sunday 8 March 2009
IWD
In case you didn't know it is International Women's today http://www.internationalwomensday.com/default.asp
The key focus this year as I understand it is the ending og Violence against women. You may have read about Rihanna being battered by Chris Brown
she has apparently forgiven him but the Police and others haven't so chance are taht he may be charged with assault. It be great
if this becomes the norm, as it helps educate those that abuse others in a domestic setting. Incidentally this includes women abusing
other women, and women abusing men.
Elsewhere in the world women are socially and economically excluded and today is also about celebrating the acheivements of women in these areas
Back here in the UK this day is being marked by looking at women's contribution to economic recovery
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/money/article-1160219/Women-possess-potential-create-extra-150-000-new-companies-year-hold-key-recovery.html
Did you also know that the men in some Eastern european countries mark this day by giving the women in their lives a single red rose:-)
View my page on Business Fights Poverty >>
Unusual fashion accessories Have you joined LTHT
Ethnic Supplies Blog Sustainable Ways out of Poverty Blog
By TwitterButtons.com
The key focus this year as I understand it is the ending og Violence against women. You may have read about Rihanna being battered by Chris Brown
she has apparently forgiven him but the Police and others haven't so chance are taht he may be charged with assault. It be great
if this becomes the norm, as it helps educate those that abuse others in a domestic setting. Incidentally this includes women abusing
other women, and women abusing men.
Elsewhere in the world women are socially and economically excluded and today is also about celebrating the acheivements of women in these areas
Back here in the UK this day is being marked by looking at women's contribution to economic recovery
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/money/article-1160219/Women-possess-potential-create-extra-150-000-new-companies-year-hold-key-recovery.html
Did you also know that the men in some Eastern european countries mark this day by giving the women in their lives a single red rose:-)
Ida Horner
Ethnic
Supplies
Ethnic
SuppliesView my page on Business Fights Poverty >>
Unusual fashion accessories Have you joined LTHT
Ethnic Supplies Blog Sustainable Ways out of Poverty Blog
By TwitterButtons.com
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