Comments on: Snap ICM poll on MPs expenses

By: Jack

Jack — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:57:22 +0000

Link the expenses to the electorate, not to all MPs.

No-one would complain if the MPs covering the Northern Isles and the Hebrides had a 2nd home allowance. Equally every one should complain if an MP was within say an hour’s drive of London and had a 2nd home allowance.

Close in MPs gets mileage, further away get air tickets and mileage.

Basically though increase pay and basically stop all allowances. (Bar, as suggested for the really far distant).

By: Cynosarges

Cynosarges — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:12:48 +0000

I am amazed at the hypocrisy shown by MPs.

Firstly, who should be allowed any access to any “accommodation” allowance. It shouldn’t be well over 500 of them. My suggested definition. If 100 of their constituents purchase season tickets to work in London, then the MP should travel likewise. The MP is issued with a 2nd class Annual season ticket, and allowed no expenses or allowances. The MP should experience the same conditions as his commuting constituents.

Secondly, for those where constituents don’t commute to London, there is an argument that they need accommodation. So copy the system used by Sveriges Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) – Buy some apartment locks, with a mixture of 2,3 & 4 bedroom flats, and offer these to MPs to use.

If the MP wants to travel first class, or more generous accommodation, they can pay out of their own pocket, like the rest of us.

By: Paul H-J

Paul H-J — Sat, 09 May 2009 21:29:43 +0000

The entire system needs to be revised, but we need to bear in mind the following:

- We should demand high standards of our MPs, and therefore should be prepared to pay them accordingly.

- MPs need staff with whom they can work closely and whom they can trust. They should be free to choose their staff (including relations), but their salalries and contracts should be managed / paid centrally.

– MPs are expected to work both in their constituency adn in Westminster. Some provision for a second home is tehrefore required. The most practical solution is to state that their first/family home should be in their constituency. The House can acquire a block of managed / serviced appartment for rent to MPs or pay a rental allowance equivalent for those to who choose to buy / rent anotehr property in Central London.

- Travel and other reasonable business expenses to ber reimbursed against receipts (air / rail travel and hotels should be booked through a central office in order to take advantage of corporate rates.)

This would put MPs on the same standing as mid/senior executives in the private sector.

By: Andy Stidwill

Andy Stidwill — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:40:45 +0000

Eric Pickles was ridiculed for saying that he shouldn’t be expected to get up at 6 in the morning after getting home late the previous night because a lot of ordinary people have to do exactly that every day in order to get to work. But the fact is that MPs are not just ordinary people, no matter how unfashionable a thought that might be these days, and I think it’s right that Eric Pickles should be able to live closer to parliament if it means helps him to do his job better. There is a sort of puritanical idea of equality in Britain today which seems to say that people in important positions shouldn’t have it any easier than the average person. I don’t agree; I think people in responsible positions should receive certain benefits that the rest of us don’t get. Of course, if they break the rules they should be dealt with in the appropriate way.

By: Colin

Colin — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:36:47 +0000

Jen-the connection between the MPs’ propert scam & the price bubble had not occured to me-very interesting thought.

Guido is about to explain in detail how it was done-using the “Hoon” model.

I am beyond contempt for these people .

“Honourable” members-what a joke.