MPs expenses and second home allowance

I have really just about had it with politicians!  They are supposed to lead by example and represent those who voted them into power, but what do we have instead?  A bunch of power crazy, corrupt, money grabbing, lazy people who will do anything to screw the tax payer out of a few more quid!  Sounds to me like a lot of other gripes on here that complain about the people in society who don't work for whatever reason!  No wonder some people are cheating to get more benefits, 'playing the system' to work as little as possible and get as much money as possible - those who supposedly run the country do it!

My sister had an accident a few years ago which has left her with permanent injuries, which means she needs help with some day to day living tasks and uses a wheelchair.  I have a bungalow which I rent out to pay the mortgage as my job comes with a flat, a sound investment.  So, when my sister came to the point where she can live semi independently I offered her the bungalow to live in, she accepted and moved in.  As she is unable to work at the moment due to the complexities of her injuries and the problems they have left her with (unstable epilepsy being just one), she applied for disability benefit, which she was awarded and housing and council tax benefit.

The council tax benefit came through quickly, but housing benefit - oh no!  As I own the home she is living in, apparently because I am her sister, I should let her live there for free!  Now, I would gladly do this if I could afford it, and indeed, we now scrape by scrimping and saving for the mortgage payments between us each month.  We were told that quite a few people use it as a scam to get the benefits system to pay their mortgage and for their house.  I can see this happening, I really can, but how is it any different from a tennant I don't know living there, claiming benefits and paying me rent?  My mortgage still gets paid from the benefits they claim doesn't it?  But because I'm not related to them then that's ok?  Rules are rules though, so we put up with this and carry on with our lives.

However, I then see on the news and read in the papers that politicians claim SECOND home allowances for homes they hardly use that are owned by their daughters, sons etc.  How can that be?  Surely these politicians are doing exactly the same as my sister and I tried to, why are they allowed to do this?  It really made my blood boil to read how various MPs had been caught claiming for places they never used as a second address, other than to say it's owned by a family member.  No mention that this isn't allowed so I presumably at the time this was quite okay.  This to me is a disgusting example of double standards!

And don't even get me started on the guy who put his DUCK HOUSE on expenses!  Come on Britain, what's going on?  Why do we allow the government to walk all over us like this?

By: 'Buck' the system