Chancellor claimed expenses for accountant to do his tax returns

More MPs are busted in spending money for personal us on expenses. Eight ministers bought digital cameras or camcorders using their office expenses. Jacqui Smith bought a 240 pound iPhone for her husband on expenses, he works as her assistent. Labour officials reacted furiously last night after eight cabinet ministers came under attack for using accountants at public expense to ensure forms they declared their office costs were properly filled out. Alistair Darling chancellor of Exchequer claimed more than 1,400 pounds for accountancy advice. A senior official also angrily denied that claiming for accountants´ fees is cheating the public. "This is not for personal use or family finances. It's specifically for their office costs, which have to go on their self assessment forms. This is actually about cabinet ministers behaving responsibly and making sure they are honouring their tax liabilities as they should."

It's ridiculous that this is happening. Great Britain is in an economic crisis and these MPs just spent the money shamelessly, the money that is so badly needed in this country. And some senior official is even defending these MPs. Of course the claim for accountants' fees is personal use. The normal people in Britain pay these fees all by themselves, they can't claim these costs. Why should the MPs get these costs compensated?

Anger at murderer's jail term cut

in 1983 and in 1986 Colin Pitchfork raped and murdered two girls Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashwordth, both 15 years old. Pitchfork was the first person to be jailed for murder through the use of DNA evidence. Pitchfork, a former baker, admitted two charges of murder, two of rape, two of indecent assault and one offence of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He initially managed to avoid justice by influencing a colleague to submit a DNA sample for him when 5,000 men in three villages were asked to volunteer blood or saliva samples.
Colin Pitchfork got a 30-year sentence, but now his imprisoning is reduced with two years. The mother of one of the teenages is disgusted by this and she says:"it's the wrong decision... it's all in favour of the criminal". The court heard that the double killer had become a specialist in the transcription of printed music in Braille and achieved a high educational standard up to degree level. Ms. Eastwood said: 'I don't want him to feel he's won anything. He's not... He still committed the murder - it doesn't change that'

I completely agree with the mother of the murdered teenager. This man should deal with the consequences of his acts. He raped and murdered two innocent girls and it seems like the court forgot about these horrible deeds. It doesn't matter that he has progressed or anything, he still committed the murder in his past. He should deal with consequences. It doesn't matter if it's reduced with 10 years or 2 years or 3 weeks, he should serve his sentence.

(article found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/8051513.stm)

Drunken youth 'fit to walk home'

On a cold winter's night in 2004, Lee Sellers (17) was walking home; Covered in mud he tried to flag down traffic. Two police officers were called to the A550 and they found lee near a roundabout. He was according to the two officers coherent and calm, they were happy with theur desicision to let Lee walk home by himself. Twoo weeks later Lee's body was found in a disused coal bunker.
In an Inquest the policemen told that they found lee near a roundabout, trying to get a lift. He was spotted by drivers wearing just a t-shirt on a night when temperatures dropped to about 1C.Officer A and B (who gave their names in provate) said Lee was 'dressed suitably for the time of year' and 'it wasn't a particulary cold evening'. Lee asked the policemen for a lift but the policemen refused, there has to be a 'policing purpose' to give someone a lift. Lee called eventually a friend, Andrew Taylor, who said his friend initially sounded "panicky" and " distressed" and wanted him to pick him up, but he had been drinking and was unable to drive. Mr. Taylor suggested Lee try another friend for a lift, but Lee decided against it. However Andrew Taylor said Lee calmed down, sounded coherent, they had discussed him calling a taxi.

I find this story very scary, this boy froze to death all alone in a coal bunker. The police are for in trouble, the policemen/women are people you trust, but these police officers didn't help Lee. I think in Holland this would have gone differently, Here I think it's more likely that the police would have given the boy a lift, or at least make sure he gets home savely. It's the difference in status, here the police is portrayed as your friend. For the Police in Wales: They should have waited untill someone wanted Lee to give a ride home, when they don't want to give a him a lift themselves.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/8022920.stm