This is going to be something to watch.
Peter Hain (Labour Leader of the House) was yesterday urging all MP's and candidates to tread carefully about using the information from this review. Our own Chief Whip was also urging caution during the Summer, as reported in The Times. I have not heard what the fringe parties think but I suppose they probably feel the same.
For myself there is clearly a fine balance between genuine expenses, expenses that could be construed and twisted into appearing controversial and those that are just outrageous. The first two should not be used under any circumstances but there are real issues when it comes to the third category.
I am no expert in MP's expenses (I am not that sad!) and whatever else I am not about to go looking for dodgy expenses in my opponents expenses (and I would think hard before using them against him). I just hope, for his sake, that there is nothing that other less scrupulous types might consider using against him.
2 comments:
Am pleased to see that Ed Davey didn't claim any allowance for staying away from home overnight. A little taken aback that Epsom & Ewell's Conservative MP claimed £14,051 though. But then I appreciate that it's all been approved by the auditors so it must be legit. The lion's share of MP's allowances seem to go on staffing so I don't really think that should be deemed 'allowances' or 'expenses'. Really, the Commons should pay for them, then no-one would get the wrong idea that that £70,000-odd is discretionary. It's essential I'd have thought.
Guess the trains to Surbiton are somewhat better than the trains to Epsom. Really interesting that Jenny Tonge in Richmond Park found it necessary to claim for central London accommodation when unlike Davey and Grayling (Epsom & Ewell) she has an underground line almost direct to Westminster. As I have said though I am not really interested in attacking people over this. In fact I would prefer they give MP's a single sum and let them do what they need with it.
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