chulo

WOW.

Yesterday the Spanish news released the EU survey putting Spain 32nd in the list of corrupt countries, Denmark being No1.

Even Italy and Greece did better.

Now today the news are covering that there are a total of 730 cases of corruption currently open in the Spanish judiciary, 594 judicial proceedings and 136 investigations opened by the prosecutors’ office.
The Socialist party is the one most affected.

You can read it here.

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news...le_23989.shtml

I guess the 21st is pushing politics into the dark ages.

The rumored EU president is likely to be a lap dog for France and Germany as well.

Add this to Euro MP`s and its a political mess about to make business in the EU less attractive than Africa.

Econ

I find it difficult to beleive Spain is located as it in on the list, I would guess it was further up but then does it not make you open your eyes and drop your jaw if it is listed as 21st as to what the we are all being ripped off for. As these people rip us off and they are generally politians or people in government or town hall jobs then as I have said before, it will never be sorted out. Every day someone in power is caulgth with their hand in the cookie jar and not a lot happens to them.

I have been ranting on for years about the corruption that is the base of the EU, the EU hasn't made it books balance for so many years now I have forgotten... yet if it was your or my business that couldn't balance it's books we would be hung drawn and quartered.

Neil and Glynis Kinnock where put in as EU ministers to try and cut down on the corruption there, in their time there the amount of corruption actually went up!.. they alone managed to pull out over £10 Million in 10 years between them and that does not include their pensions... when Glynis was asked about this amount of money by a UK newspaper her reply was: 'Everyone there does it and they are not doing anything they shouldn't be', get the calculator out! I could go on, and on, and on, and on but the whole EU thing leaves me sick now to be honest.

steviedeluxe

I fear the MPs' expenses scandal has hit the UK's reputation. I'm in a very small minority but I think what the MPs did was actually very small beer - they're certainly no worse than a lot of people in private business who claim tax-deductible "expenses". What the MPs should have done is have no expenses at all, perhaps increase their salary by 25% (to cover transport and admin stuff) and have specially provided accommodation for them in London - better still move the Parliament elsewhere in the UK where things can be done cheaper.

chulo

I would like to see a reduction in both Euro MP`s and UK MP`s and increase there wage bill.

If you look at the likes of Richard Branson or Alan Sugar, Ok well keep to Branson as Sugar is an idiot who got lucky, if Branson walks into a Virgin store does he have to pay for a product, does he pay for airline tickets and does he pay very good accountants to reduce his tax liability.

No he doesn`t and yes he does.

I no a few company directors and there always getting freebies, any Self employed person is aware of how to reduce there bills.

The tax man allows a £50,000 spend on any equipment a business needs which can be off set against a tax bill.

So if next April I`m faced with a £46,000 bill, I simply purchase a piece of equipment for say £55,000.00 keep it for several months, send in my tax return, take the reduction and then sell the equipment a month after for £48,000.

I`m not avoiding tax I`m simple following the rules set out, playing the rules isn`t illegal.

The rules for 2010 a even less strict for your tax return if your a small business, all the tax forms will ask is how much you turned over and how much you deduct for expenses, they no longer require anymore.

Its wildly open for abuse, obviously you have to keep records etc etc.

agoreira

I can't stand Blair, and neither can Merkel, so he's out of the running. Looks like a fight between two political lightweights, or featherweights, from the likes of Belgium or Luxemburg!!!!!! Can't really see them standing up to France or Germany.

Econ

Personally I think their wages should be increased but only if their pensions are greatly reduced... why should government pensions be much higher for government employees than others? because it is taken from our tax and they control our tax. There is a saying: 'Have Your Cake And Eat It', well politicians do, many times, they have it on their expenses and then on their pensions, then if they become a EU MP they get it even more on their pensions... then if they do another 5 years as a EU MP they have it again as their already EU pension is then doubled... yes, this is on top of their UK pension, they get it so much that I doubt anyone apart from a bank employee gets as much money...

Kinnocks snouts in the trough:
Kinnocks Euro Lotto

The only reason this one was jailed was because he was caught on film bragging, how many other have?
One pays, only because he was caught bragging


What the hell, they are only dealing with £63 billion of our taxes...
Books don't balance


MP pensions
OK I know, it's the 'Thedailymash' but it is right to the point

Pension trivia

Yes, and while you are a politician you can flip and get away with it, while if you are not, you can't... yes, all open for abuse... shame Tony Blair's government records mysteriously disappeared so he won't have to worry will he... but if your records do then you will.... following the rules eh, rules for who... them or us?

just the norm while running a business... right.

HBG

It always makes me smile when people get on their high horses when discussing corruption. It may be a vast subject, but if you simplify it, it’s easier. When was the Last Supper, 2,000 years ago? Someone copped a bung then, didn’t they?

They’ve been copping bungs ever since, at every level, and the people that complain are usually the ones who haven’t had a bung for a while.

All those holier than thou, if they were a mayor in Spain, and an honest local citizen gave them a box of chocolates for the wife, would they refuse to accept it. If they did they would be preaching in some lonely pulpit in the middle of nowhere.

Buckingham Palace is full of gifts from people all over the world. If they don’t mind a bung, why should the rest of us?

Econ

Afraid I don't see any real comparison here, one thing is accepting some small gift, the other is putting your hands in and taking a fortune... and in many cases it is those that control the fortune that are taking it... sorry, i think you obviously don't understand, are on the take, taking the piss, don't care or are in CCL

steviedeluxe

You may be right in saying it's more widespread than we think, but it doesn't mean we should ignore it when we find out it's happening. For example that "intentional" crash by that F1 racer - if that type of thing was allowed to happen all the time it'd make a mockery of the sport. Personally I'd definitely make a big issue of any police who were found to be corrupt, otherwise things would get too out of hand. By and large we're not at the stage in most European countries where we have to bribe the policeman in order to go on our way. I've heard it's not the case in other continents.

JLFS

Wether you agree with this opinion or not, this post made me laugh......really witty and well written.

agoreira

I thought it was pretty pathetic, so let's hope he wasn't serious.

Econ

Hi Stevie, currently in Spain there are Police falling like flies as they catch them dealing in drugs... Polica local, National, Guardia and just the other day a National in Benalmadena (I think they said Benalmadena on the news). About a year back the whole local police force from a small town near Madrid where arrested for running drugs in the town... not 1 or 2, the whole force so not so sure about the amount of truth in your above comment to be honest at least by from the stuff that is reported on the news about them, and that is just what we know about!

I am a great supporter of the police for various reasons but somehow I find it difficult to muster much respect for the police in Spain...

apart from the Guardia that is... even though they have seen their fair share of corruption over the years I have always been treated with respect and in a educated manner by them, whenever stopped for whatever reason. it is clear to see they actually go to a Police collage before they give them a gun and uniform

Econ

Glad there others with some common sense here

steviedeluxe

Econ - I've been stopped by the police in both Spain and the UK. In all cases I may not have appreciated their attitude, but there's never been any demand for money/bribes etc. and I've never met anyone personally who's had to do this. Once they established I wasn't breaking any law (and even in one case I had) I was allowed to continue.
As for general corruption in the police force - yes I've seen this in the Spanish press, as well as in the UK (well London really, I suppose the temptations are greater there).
So when I say that in these two countries (and others in Europe) you can go on your way without having to bribe the police - I stand 100% behind that. Obviously I can't speak for a brothel owner or a drugs dealer...

Econ

I am not having a go at your opinions

anyway, I am only stating that if a police man deals in drugs then I would be fairly much behind the thinking that I wouldn't be surprised at anything... I personally have not been asked for money 'by a Spanish police man' but I would not go as far as saying that I was sure that it wasn't done. If a police man deals in drugs then he might be fairly much capable of anything, of course... that is not to say they or some of then do it, though... I know I wouldn't put any money on it.

BTW, I don't think a Police man asking for a bribe would worry me too much anyway, there are other things that are happening that makes this sort of thing practically irrelevant for me, what is the problem with being given the option of not getting a fine or loose points for a back hander when there are thousands of people in political positions ripping us off for millions.