Comments on: MPs expenses: the details that you’ve probably missed

By: Tony Greaves

Tony Greaves — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:16:19 +0000

As I understand it MPs are allowed to claim for mileage done as part of their constituency duties – ie driving to their constituency and driving around it.

I agree with Martin’s basic point – the whole thing has now become an exercise in spite and envy in the face of the Mob, led by the media. It’s a concerted attempt to bring down the so-called “political class” which risks dealing a fatal blow to the whole democratic system.

Meanwhile we will end up with a House of Commons that consists of rich people and/or people who have no idea what they are supposed to be doing and are just putty in the hands of the whips. I don’t imagine any of this will concern the Barclay Brothers.

Tony Greaves

By: Martin Land

Martin Land — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:16:52 +0000

Mark: Thanks for the clarification. I found that bit especially difficult to follow.

By: Mark Pack

Mark Pack — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:12:34 +0000

Martin: the way I read it is that under these rules you won’t be allowed to claim for travel between your ‘near Westminster’ accommodation and Parliament nor between your ‘near constituency’ accommodation and going to anywhere in the constituency. (For MPs in and near London the two will be the same.) That seems perfectly reasonable to me and in line with what most employers do. For example, if I had to work in London and Edinburgh half the time each, I’d expect my employer to help with the fact that I’ve got to live in two places but not to pay my tube (London) or bus (Edinburgh) fare to and from the workplace.

By: Tim13

Tim13 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:11:01 +0000

Well, Martin, unless I am very much mistaken, the parts of the report that Mark quotes make it fairly clear that travel between the London base and the constituency would be paid. It is, I think, where there are other commutes, during the working week, eg MP for Northampton, flat in Morden, daily commute from Morden to Westminster – this not paid for publicly. But travel to Northampton paid.

By: Tim Leunig

Tim Leunig — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:44:57 +0000

£70k is not a bad salary. It does put you in the top 10%. If you choose to live in Rye, ** and that is not your constituency ** you should pay the cost of commuting.

By: Martin Land

Martin Land — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:23:36 +0000

I must confess that I was completely confused by the Travel section, in that it doesn’t seem at all clear to me , where an MPs place of work is. MPs are supposed to pay for their journey to work like other constituents. I assume that the place of work is the constituency office and that MPs will continue to be reimbursed for journeys to Parliament. If not, certain Scottish MPs would actually owe the taxpayer money, rather than be paid a salary!

This whole exercise has gone from an attempt to prevent serious abuses by a minority to a vindictive exercise which will mean that MPs will increasingly come from either of two groups, political hacks and the very rich.