The Telegraph is doing a great journalistic job on the saga of the MPs' expenses. Every time we think it can't get any worse, it does.
The latest tit-bit relates to possible collusion by Speaker Martin's office that gave secret permission for some MPs to over-claim for thousands of pounds in home loan interest in deals that led to the systematic abuse of the taxpayer-funded expenses system. The Labour MP for Wirral South, Ben Chapman has revealed that he was allowed to continue claiming allowance for parts of a home loan that has been paid off. This follows hot on the heels of another two Labour MPs, Elliot Morley and David Chaytor, claimed for mortgages that did not exist.
So it seems that we have a situation where it's not just the MPs that are corrupt, but the whole Parliamentary system and officials. I bet Speaker Martin will be trying to cling onto his position to retain his £100k pa pension. If he jumps then he wouldn't be eligible for it. Let's hope he has the decency to 'fess up and stand down.
Anyway, back to Labour. The revelation that Ben Chapman was allowed to make these fraudulent claims was, according to the Telegraph because
“By paying off capital I am forgoing interest and investment opportunities elsewhere,” he told the fees office.
For the love of all that is holy! This is a Labour MP! What has it come to when a Labour MP can behave like some parody of an investment banker. My dear hope was that when Blair moved on and the Blairite rump were no longer interested that the Labour party could be reclaimed from the New Labour experiment. But methinks the corpse has been dead this past fourteen years.
It seems like every day that the revelations from the Telegraph newspaper are getting more and more obscene in the milking of the system ny MPs. I think we are now in a situation where the whole concept of a Parialimentary Democracy is under threat. Unfortunately most of that threat seems to come from within the current political class at Westminster. Any reforms have the possibility of further reducing the representativeness of our Parliamentary Democracy by the back door.
For myself I have to say I would be unsurprised to find any of the Tories 'maximising' the system. However, to find members of the Parliamentary Labour Party doing so goes beyond the pale. I think this current mess that the PLP finds itself in is an unavoidable consequence of the adoption of the career politician and the creation of the 'political class'. These are the MPs and members who have been attracted to the Labour Party for what it can offer them and have swung into positions riding on the coat tails of Blair, although I personally find the root of this starting with Kinnock. Judging by the recent dramatic drop in the membership of the Constituency Labour Parties I think most of the New Labour acolytes have already left and there is now the opportunity to send the New Labour PLP packing.
So, here's my foolproof plan to keep Labour in power for the foreseeable future!
Make all of those MPs who have made claims judged as excessive by the 'court of public opinion' face an immediate reselection process.
Make all of those MPs who have made claims judged as excessive by the 'court of public opinion' pay the money back.
Consider prosecution for all those MPs who have made claims judged as excessive by the 'court of public opinion'. I'm sure that they can be had under malfeasance.
Set the pay for MPs to represent the average pay for their constituents.
Get rid of the concept of MPs being able to fund second homes, have the taxpayer pick up the tab and then flog it for a profit. If they need to stay over for Westminster business then they can get a hotel room.
That should do it!
If anybody wonders I left the Labour party over 20 years ago when it lurched to the right when Kinnock took the reigns. I wouldn't rejoin it if you paid me. Leastways not until the New Labour corpse has been well and truly buried. :)
All about me, Chris Hall from the UK. I blog about religion, politics, technology and anything else that takes me fancy!
I'm a Technologist for a large multinational and also do web design. If you need a site designed or hosting then check out my other site www.mswd.co.uk
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