The MPs who want to block reform on expenses

It's crunch day over MPs' salary and expenses, not that honourable members really want you to know it.

On salary, MPs will be voting around 3.15pm on whether to accept a more generous (linked to public sector average earnings, 3.5 per cent, plus £1,950 catch-up over three years) or less generous package (no one-off raise, annual rise linked to less generous senior civil service approx 2.5 per cent). Gordon Brown, all government payroll and all Tory frontbenchers will have to vote for the latter. It's unclear whether there will be enough other MPs to overturn the government's will.

But the vote to watch is the 5.45pm one on expenses - because it'll tell you so much about whether MPs get the public anger over the subject or not. Following the Conway scandal, the Speaker and his Members Estimate Committee launched a six month review of the system. Despite being derided while it was underway, the package they came up has widely been regarded as pretty fair without being overly generous. No more furnishings of the sort seen on the John Lewis list, no refurbishing your house, everything must have receipts.

Under these plans, newer MPs with large mortgage interest payments will receive roughly the same amount of money, but long serving MPs - who have paid off their mortgage - will get a lot less because they are no longer able to buy new TVs.

But a group of Labour MPs are deeply unhappy. Don Touhig, Helen Jones, Dawn Butler, Jim Sheridan, Ann Cryer and Kevan Jones have put down an amendment throwing all of the above changes and keep the current system which has caused so much scandal. Labour MPs are being in heated discussion the tearoom to back their proposals, and there are apparently signs the 1922 committee representing Tory MPs are shifting too.

If they succeed, it would send a clear signal that MPs are not able to modernise themselves, and all hell could break loose. They are likely be subject to an external inquiry on expenses, possibly by Sir John Lyon, the results of which will be even more painful.

Comments

[tosser]

I do admire people that have such thick hides as politicians they truly are animals from a different world totally impervious to any moral or ethical critism the only time you see them getting excited is when they have to lift there snouts out of the slop trough to get on the gravy train that is provided to take them to a better class of highly polished more expensive deeper troughs.

[Bill]

Whenever I drive by the House of Commons in my taxi I can't help but get a whiff of pigs and hear a sound of them wallowing in the trough. (I was brought up on a farm and the smell & sound is unmistakable). There are no farms in that area so it must be coming from the Commons itself. I wonder why?

[Jamaica]

These greedy B's.....What about us senior citizens who's struggling by on meager state retirement pensions and everything thats attached to getting it, including the means tested pensions credits, (whereby you nearly have to sell your soul to get it,) which in total is now equivalent to about 15% of what it should normally otherwise have been had this greedy sleezy Labour Government and Conservatives Government before them not plundered our proper cost of living rises many years ago, promising many times to re-instate it, (yet haven't !) instead fill their own bottomless pockets...I will also add....The plight of us state retired pensioners is an example only,... because there are the many other decent citizens struggling by (not including those who got too greedy by trying to live beyond their means,) in The UK, who are struggling to live day to day, whilst these greedy Politicians, feel no remorse whatsoever whilst filling their own bottomless pockets from the many self agreed allowances !! They disgust me, to think that I fought on active service for this country in the Malayan Jungle during the 1950, as did my father and the many many others who laid their Lives on the Line with promises being made that this country would be a country that's fit for hero's to Live in!! My God what happened to those promises?? There is No doubt we were duped/deceived into believing the two faced politicians then just has they expect us to believe now!! ......I SAY...NO CHANCE??

[Alastair]

They won't listen because too many of them don't care. They are the ones who will say *anything* to get in power and then stay there and spend their time thumbing their noses at us.

[Paul Owen]

Let's see if the party leaders have the bottle to take these fat cats on. If they refuse to toe the line and vote for these perfectly fair and, compared to the standards that the rest of us live by, still generous terms then they should be de selected from their constituencies. They cannot carry on fleecing taxpayers this way. If the leaders won't do it then I for one will stand at the next election against one of these nay sayers and point out often and loudly what exactly they voted for. I hope that others will do the same. It's the only way to shame them into doing the right thing.

[Jim Prudhoe]

Just the usual unselfconscious bestial behaviour - disgraceful!
We must have a "subtractor" voting box at the next election where we can use our vote to negate one made for a candidate, this will modify a party imposed greed merchant's attitude to his/her function in life. Could indeed ensure a re run with a totally different set of candidates.
Something must be done!

[John L Bell]

Sir,
I note with deep disgust the recent self serving vote by MPs to retain their self appointed right to a system wihich has shown itself to be riddled with corrupt practices across all parties, at all levels.
I am no legal expert but note that the following section of the 2006 Fraud Act, could be considered to cover the recent actions of MPS;

4 Fraud by abuse of position

(1) A person is in breach of this section if he-

(a) occupies a position in which he is expected to safeguard, or not to act against, the financial interests of another person,
(b) dishonestly abuses that position, and
(c) intends, by means of the abuse of that position-
(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or
(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.
(2) A person may be regarded as having abused his position even though his conduct consisted of an omission rather than an act.

Are we truly in a 'Mugabe like' parliamentary system whose tag line should be the following?

British Citizens Burn While MPs Fiddle!

Yours sincerely,
John L Bell

[Peter corke]

Typical, of these People on the Gravy Train.
it does not stop at Red Lights

[Paul Davidson]

The Employment and Support Allowance from October 2008, which will focus on supporting people in to work and will not automatically assume that because a person has a significant health condition or disability they are incapable of work. with one exeption, you cant work for the boys club, down John Lewiss way, as its only for fat cats, and M.P.s. Giving disabled people greater choice and control. O.K. FINE I WILL VOTE THESE GREEDY NON DEMOCRATIC'S OUT OF THEIR DEPENDENCY ON THE FINE UPSTANDING TAX PAYERS MONEY. I WOULD SUGGEST WE NEED A GOVERNMENT REFORM BILL, NOT A WELFARE REFORM BILL

[Paul Davidson]

There would be to much Burocracy, for M.P.s. to account for their expences. yet thousands of paid /unpaid volunteers, have to hand over their travel expenses every day, as proof, they have used them properly. thats accountability, open and transparrent, as it should be. saying that, many of us who are on incapacity benefit, who get invited to consultation meetings, which are a Government directive, have to declare our travel expenses, of, £5 which is hugely problematic, and stops many disadvantaged people getting involved in helping shaping services, Personally I have had to spend hundreds of pounds going to meetings, trying to help shape services,for the betterment of the whole community, while M.P.s. tell you tax payers, I and countless others are lounging on the sofa all day watching rubbish day time T.V. yet itsthe M.P.s, who are buying the expensive T.V.s. for their second homes, at the expence of you tax payers, Now, which of us do you hate more?.

[mike]

fcuk the lot of them

[Ian Olive]

Watch the Mother of Parliaments rot from the inside as its dishonourable members continue to extract every last taxpayer penny for themselves through their corrupt and discredited expenses system.

It's corrosive and it will be their downfall.

[Bob Evans]

In the immortal words of Captain Louis Renault, Casablanca Prefect of Police, upon learning that there was gambling taking place in Rick's American Bar, "I am shocked!!!" And, pocketing his winnings for the evening, ordered it closed!

Parliament even considering a relaxation of their grip of luxurious "expenses"? I am shocked that any heretic within would even suggest it!

[Bob Evans]

In the immortal words of Captain Louis Renault, Casablanca Prefect of Police, upon learning that there was gambling taking place in Rick's American Bar, "I am shocked!!!" And, pocketing his winnings for the evening, ordered it closed!

Parliament even considering a relaxation of their grip of luxurious "expenses"? I am shocked that any heretic within would even suggest it!

[Bob Evans]

In the immortal words of Captain Louis Renault, Casablanca Prefect of Police, upon learning that there was gambling taking place in Rick's American Bar, "I am shocked!!!" And, pocketing his winnings for the evening, ordered it closed!

Parliament even considering a relaxation of their grip of luxurious "expenses"? I am shocked that any heretic within would even suggest it!

[Trevor Dee]

Simple answer. Vote UKIP and get the mainstream politicians out of office. Then demand a proper accountability of pay and expenses based on productivity. Instigate a proper investigation of second homes allowances, allowances for family helpers, holiday and travel perks. Publish a transgressors list and insist on a reduction in the number of politicians by at least 50%

[Scott]

George Orwell had it dead right. Animal Farm playing out right before our own eyes.

[vincent lennon]

for some time I have been thinking of writing to my MP, to say that I will not be voting for him or any other MP or Councillor who does not have a cerificate from an independent body, to certify that he has a clean bill of health, expenses -wise

[John]

There is a major problem with career Politicians. I am talking about those who don't have other careers (Gordon Brown) and many in the Labour party. These people are totally dependent on the income from being a Politician and will compromise on principles to stay in power. They do not act in the best interests of the country as the prime motivation is retaining their job and income. It might provide some insight into the continued failure of Labour Governments over many decades. It also suggests that those who might best govern are those who don't need the job, but do it for Philanthropic reasons.

[Jamaica]

ALL THOSE IN TRADE UNIONS WHO PAY POLITICAL LEVIES TO THE LABOUR PARTY..... IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM VOTING THEMSELVES THESE OVER GENEROUS ALLOWANCES, (and blow the rest,) THEN IT'S YOUR LEGAL ENTITLEMENT TO GET AN OPT OUT FORM FORM YOUR TRADE UNION STEWARD TO STOP PAYING THE POLITICAL LEVIE TO THE LABOUR PARTY. IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO PAY IT TO ANY OTHER CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE....ANIMAL WELFARE ARE GOOD CHARITIES.... AFTER ALL ANIMALS DO IN RETURN GIVE HELP AND AFFECTION BACK TO THOSE WHO SHOW KINDNESS AND AFFECTION TO THEM DO THEY NOT??

[Jamaica]

ALL THOSE IN TRADE UNIONS WHO PAY POLITICAL LEVIES TO THE LABOUR PARTY YOU HAVE THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS TO .....ESPECIALLY IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM GIVING OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS AWAY!! THEN (with what appears as a raised middle finger gesture,) VOTE THEMSELVES THESE OVER GENEROUS NEVER ENDING ALLOWANCES FIDDLES! (and blow the rest!) THEN IT'S YOUR LEGAL ENTITLEMENT TO GET AN OPT OUT FORM FORM YOUR TRADE UNION STEWARD TO STOP PAYING THE POLITICAL LEVIE TO THE LABOUR PARTY. IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO PAY IT TO ANY OTHER CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE....ANIMAL WELFARE ARE GOOD CHARITIES.... AFTER ALL ANIMALS DO IN RETURN GIVE HELP AND AFFECTION BACK TO THOSE WHO SHOW KINDNESS AND AFFECTION TO THEM DO THEY NOT??

[Terry]

To "Jamaica", I say the only consolation is that the present bunch of spivs and half-wits who infest the first House of democracy bear no resemblance to those there during our youth, who provided gravitas, respect, and meaningful debate. Not even a shadow.

The banana republic looms ever more near

[B.Garvie]

It is typical of the majority of Labour MPs filling their pockets. These greedy misfits have no shame and demonstrate utter contempt for the electorate.
When they get kicked out of office they don't have to wonder why!

Kamakazi Labour is committing electoral suicide.