Channel 4: Tower Block of Commons

[dwaine]

Second episode on tonight - just wondered if anyone else is catching it.

OK, shouldn't be that surprised - MPs don't know how the other half live shocker!!111.

But, the degree of their ignorance is amazing. Austin Mitchell demanding a flat of his own, buggering off for dinner around a friends, and then patronising the benefits these poor people get? And these are the people we elect to serve in our best interests?

I'm just stunned - and I'm getting the impression most of them are so thick-skinned, it'll make faff-all difference to them - as long as participation in the programme buys them some fake-empathy with the voters come election time.

Nadine trying to justify her two houses and MP expenses - the woman is on a different planet.

None of the parties seem to be coming across particularly well.

[Andrew70]

I watched the first two episodes of this last night and it's starkly showing ignorance from both sides of the experiment.

IDS was stunned to unbelieving silence when his host didn't know what the Houses of Parliament was, let alone where it was or what MPs did in it.

I agreed with Mark Oaten's disappointment that the mother he was staying with spends almost a third of her family's £150 a week benefits on cigarettes. She had a valid go back at him though by bringing him to task over his expenses claims. £116 or thereabouts for two irons is not an example of 'I always buy the cheapest'. Also, I can stomach him buying one for his constituency home but why on earth should the taxpayer be paying for domestic appliances for his family home?
For all that, it feels like he's the one making the most effort and is getting something useful from the experience.

Nadine Dorries faced similar criticisms but didn't defend herself well. The sister of the woman she's staying with has a very big axe to grind and is fond of using sneering generalisations about MPs. I have a designated main place of work but if I'm required to go to other places as part of my job, I don't expect to have to cover those travelling or accommodation or meal expenses out of my own pocket and I don't expect it of MPs either. Sister conveniently chose not to make that distinction between work and home implying all travelling and food was claimed for and Nadine just meekly took the verbal battering.
Nadine did score a point later on though by diplomatically implying that Sister - who confessed openly that she never intends to work again because she feels the system has failed her - and her family live very well off the state and have many luxury items that the benefits system wasn't conceived to provide.

Tim whatshisface seems to be the most astute of the MPs taking part. When confronted with the dope smoking father, I got the impression he was in two minds about reporting the family to social services and the presence of the camera crew was painting him into that corner.

Austin Mitchell, whom I thought would have come out of this type of program the best, is coming over so badly it's almost beyond description. He has become what I imagine he entered politics to fight against and no longer has a grasp of what the real world is like. His wife does, but she knows what she is and what she has and is unapologetic for it. I wouldn't be surprised if this show hurts his chances at the next general election and the change wouldn't be a bad thing based on what we're seeing. I'd say he's been in Westminster for 5-10 years too long already.

[hookbeak]

i enjoyed the irony of people who had never worked a day in their lives complaining about MP's living at the taxpayers expense.

[rainman999]

I still don't think the woman had a leg to stand on spending all the cash on ciggies, I mean yes the politician did **** away money on irons etc but at the end of the day he does work, and his kids all get fed, he just had a generous expenses policy.

What amazed me were the kids sat around playing Nintendo DSi's. Not an old gameboy, not a gameboy advance, not even a DS, the latest greatest DSi. I don't even have one of them and I work full time.

[Andrew70]

I was very surprised at AM's fruity language too when he was singing to the toddler as he fed him. The kid wouldn't have necessarily understood but the older children in the room definitely would.

[Norky]

Originally Posted by rainman999

What amazed me were the kids sat around playing Nintendo DSi's. Not an old gameboy, not a gameboy advance, not even a DS, the latest greatest DSi. I don't even have one of them and I work full time.

Don't forget the wapping huge tele and Sky box

People receiving methadone every day on the NHS aren't really in the best position to complain about expenses either

[NicolaUK]

Originally Posted by Andrew70

I watched the first two episodes of this last night and it's starkly showing ignorance from both sides of the experiment.

IDS was stunned to unbelieving silence when his host didn't know what the Houses of Parliament was, let alone where it was or what MPs did in it.

I agreed with Mark Oaten's disappointment that the mother he was staying with spends almost a third of her family's £150 a week benefits on cigarettes. She had a valid go back at him though by bringing him to task over his expenses claims. £116 or thereabouts for two irons is not an example of 'I always buy the cheapest'. Also, I can stomach him buying one for his constituency home but why on earth should the taxpayer be paying for domestic appliances for his family home?
For all that, it feels like he's the one making the most effort and is getting something useful from the experience.

Nadine Dorries faced similar criticisms but didn't defend herself well. The sister of the woman she's staying with has a very big axe to grind and is fond of using sneering generalisations about MPs. I have a designated main place of work but if I'm required to go to other places as part of my job, I don't expect to have to cover those travelling or accommodation or meal expenses out of my own pocket and I don't expect it of MPs either. Sister conveniently chose not to make that distinction between work and home implying all travelling and food was claimed for and Nadine just meekly took the verbal battering.
Nadine did score a point later on though by diplomatically implying that Sister - who confessed openly that she never intends to work again because she feels the system has failed her - and her family live very well off the state and have many luxury items that the benefits system wasn't conceived to provide.

Tim whatshisface seems to be the most astute of the MPs taking part. When confronted with the dope smoking father, I got the impression he was in two minds about reporting the family to social services and the presence of the camera crew was painting him into that corner.

Austin Mitchell, whom I thought would have come out of this type of program the best, is coming over so badly it's almost beyond description. He has become what I imagine he entered politics to fight against and no longer has a grasp of what the real world is like. His wife does, but she knows what she is and what she has and is unapologetic for it. I wouldn't be surprised if this show hurts his chances at the next general election and the change wouldn't be a bad thing based on what we're seeing. I'd say he's been in Westminster for 5-10 years too long already.

Absolutely agree with all of that.

Originally Posted by hookbeak

i enjoyed the irony of people who had never worked a day in their lives complaining about MP's living at the taxpayers expense.

Were you also shouting at the tv by that point?

[jester]

As an ex-resident of Orchard Park Estate I thank the man in the sky for the fact I got out and do not have to bring up my kids there.

[Roberto]

Well It's over, the only one who really looked bad out of this Austin Mitchell, who didn't even live with a family, and stayed in his own flat and did sod all.

I was actually very impressed with Mark Oaten and his attempts to get something done and Nadine Dorries came up to par by the end too.