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Social Justice > Published by Daniel Elton, January 13th 2011 at 6:29 pm

The damage done by Illsley and Chaytor cannot be measured in pounds and pence

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In these times when the public sector is bracing itself for cuts so deep that they will tear into the fabric of society, it is worth measuring in terms of the services that people rely on the scale of the fraud committed by Britain’s errant MPs.

Eric-IllsleySo far David Chaytor, formerly Labour MP for Bury North, and Eric Illsley, formerly Labour MP for Barnsley Central , have been found in a court of law to have defrauded the taxpayer of £22,000 and £14,000 respectively.

Cumulatively these amounts are equal to:

• One and a half newly qualified teachers;

• Three part time occupational therapists that could support children with eating disorders;

• More than two therapy assistants who help mothers after  childbirth

These are first and foremost legal crimes against society at large. But progressives have a particular greivance against them. Policies that feature the contribution of all to a common pot and the fair distribution from it, depend on trust: That no one is shirking thier responsibilities or taking what is not rightly theirs.

As custodians of this system, MPs should be especially trustworthy. That these are Labour MPs, the party that claims to have these principles at its very core, is shameful. Two more Labour MPs (Elliot Morley and Jim Devine)and two more Conservative Peers (Lord Hanningfield and Taylor), still face a legal verdict.

When it is all over, the entire political class, and those who wish to carry the progressive mantle, must be vigilant against any repeat of this tawdry episode.

  • http://twitter.com/aboutpower/status/25633233198649344 Alan Marshall

    RT @leftfootfwd: The damage done by Illsley and Chaytor cannot be measured in pounds and pence: http://bit.ly/eGZ0M3 writes @DanielElton

  • http://mrmxyzptlkaa.blogspot.com/ Mr. Mxyzptlk

    Another Labour MP goes to jail

    If you think this isnt painful
    for true Labour supporters.
    You are wrong!

    there was something wrong at
    the dark heart of New Labour
    as the death throws shows.

    Some go to jail others sell
    themselves to any bidder
    not even the highest one.
    a few who only recently
    served in the Labour Government
    now prostrate themselves to
    the new power in the Land.
    for personal gain.

    A sorry sordid affair
    Ed has got his self
    a tough time ahead.

  • sandy

    Maybe there should be an extra year or two on the tariff for a Labour politician when found guilty of fraud from the public purse.

    I say that as a new member of the Labour party.

    They let down the very people they should be helping and bring the Labour party into disrepute.

  • Mr. Sensible

    What those 2 MPs did was a disgrace.

  • Anon E Mouse

    sandy – I agree. Maybe there should be an extra year or two for any public servant in a position of trust irrespective of their party.

    I would say though that the writer here almost seems to be downplaying the amounts involved – what is important is the action.

    Congratulations to Labour on the by-election win last night as well…

  • Billy Blofeld

    Daniel,

    If you suffer from a weak disposition I suggest that you don’t calculate how many newly qualified teachers could be paid for if we weren’t paying through the nose for PFI contracts or paying so much interest on the vast national debt.

    Progressives would wet their pants if they knew how much “investment” was being diverted from the front line to pay for the follies of the past.

  • http://twitter.com/cllrkrichards/status/26037736636940288 Kevin Richards

    Traitors to socialism & the Labour movement -The damage done by Illsley and Chaytor can't be measured in pounds & pence http://bit.ly/eivzBN

  • http://twitter.com/myinfamy/status/26096047562432512 Daniel Pitt

    RT @leftfootfwd: The damage done by Illsley and Chaytor cannot be measured in pounds and pence: http://bit.ly/eGZ0M3 writes @DanielElton

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/02/the-price-of-jim-devines-fraud/ The price of Jim Devine’s fraud | Left Foot Forward

    [...] false receipts. He was today sentenced to 12 months in jail. This can now been added the sums taken criminally by David Chaytor (£22,000) and Eric Illsley (£14,000) to a total of almost [...]