Seems that a nerve has been struck, sounds like hes getting out while the going is good.
However the expenses are worked out there must be a control mechanism in place.
Why are people claiming for second homes if they already live in or near the capital? fair enough if you had to travel in from a long way and even then the majority of the country get up early travel to work and get home again.

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Why is it that some MPs can get by with only minimal staff costs whilst other backbench MPs seem incapable of representing their electorates without claiming for a whole army of support workers (some of which just happen to be their relatives, of course)?

For example, Dennis Skinner’s total expenses – staff, travel, second home, everything – come to no more than £67,000; whilst other MPs claim nearly twice that much in staffing costs alone. Beast of Bolsover he might be, but at least the old class warrior gives some thought to the public purse.

In addition, we all know that the ‘communication’ allowance is just a euphemism for a member of Parliament promoting him or herself at the public expense (in other words, election material by another name!).

So I don’t have a problem with paying our MPs a salary of £100,000 whilst scrapping all other allowances. However, only upon condition that their numbers are reduced from 650 down to 400.

After all, why do we need so many legislators when 80% of our laws are made in Brussels anyway and devolution has passed much of remainder to the assemblies in Cardiff and Edinburgh? Added to which, if recent events are anything to go there is little effective scrutiny going on even where the House of Commons still retains some legislative competence.

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It’s scandalous MP’s should pay for everything like we have to, they earn twice, if not 3 or 4 more times we do.

It simply should never have been allowed in the first place, why are they even allowed to have a second home, they wanted to be MP’s so should have moved to London.

Free TV,Internet,Phone,Postage,Furniture I bet we even have to pay for their food too, whilst we mere mortals suffer job losses, repossessions, court action for late payments ect ect.

This is twice as bad as the former bank chief collecting a 3/4 million pound pension every year and look how much fuss the Prime Minister & his cronies kicked up about that.

Bring back Robin Hood & Guy Fawkes me says

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These Mp’s are incompetent fools. It is their job to lie for a living. Such a high wage and then so much in expenses? They should be sent to the gallows for abusing their positions of trust.

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MY eldest brother worked for the government as an army officer, when he finished they had his house off him furniture the lot , yet these MPs get to keep theirs why??

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Number 6 Gary, yes we could require them to live in London.
They’d then have to claim for a house in their constituency or hotel rooms for when they have to be in the area.
Like when meeting people from the constituency. Unless you’d rather travel to London at your own expense to talk to your MP about something?

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Crooks the lot of them!! from Councillors to MPs they are all the same.

They are in it for one thing THEMSELVES they dont give a hoot about joe soap public.

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Who are these pompous fools? Are they oblivious to the state of the country? They were the one`s who were in control of the ship that hit the rocks. We never see these people unless an election is imminent no doubt they will be begging for us to return them back to the pig trough soon? I for one would vote for a vast reduction in the number of MPs at a reduced renumeration. Time for a revolution!!

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I have three observations to make;
“Mr Austin, Minister for the West Midlands, said: “Most of these costs are to run offices, employ staff and provide a first class service.”
Mr Austin, I have lived in the West Midlands since before it was the West Midlands, I’ve never heard of you so which bit of your service is first class?
Wolverhampton North East MP Ken Purchase said “If anyone has any complaints about my expenses then I would urge them to please, please report me. I really don’t care any more.”
Mr Purchase if you worked for me (actually I suppose you do in a perverse sort of way!) you would be dismissed.
Aldridge-Brownhills MP Richard Shepherd said: “The MP salary is less than that of the head of a big secondary school”.
Mr Shepherd why are you comparing yourself to a professional person?

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Come to think of it, why do we need “Regional Minister for the West Midlands” either?

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Dave Nellist (voted Parliamentarian of the year just before being ejected and deslected as an MP by the New Labour Blair Labour Party) represented himself as a “workers’ MP on a worker’s wage”.

He took only the wage of a skilled factory worker (40% of what he could have earned) less than half that which other MPs took for themselves, the rest he donated back to the Labour movement and to charities.

An average skilled workers wage would currently be about £25,000

It’s interesting that George Galloway, the sicialist Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, has refused to act on the above principle of only drawing an average worker’s wage, claiming that he couldn’t survive on three workers’ wages.

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I seem to recall all those stories about Child Tax Credit claimants who were overpaid (in error by this Government, as it happened) being made to promptly repay the difference upon pain of being jailed.

It’s a pity that those hapless families were not in a position to be able to call upon the services of our Home Secretary’s ‘personal assistant’ (who is paid £40,000 from the public purse) to fill in their claim forms for them.

Then again, second thoughts…

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Maybe we should introduce performance related pay for the MP representing your constituency? I am sure they would be paid what they deserve via a feedback form!!

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What arogant imbeciles these MP’s are, they just don’t live in the real world. They dictate to us to accept a paltry, ridiculously low, pay rise, yet vote THEMSELVES 2.3%. They lie and cheat about their ‘second’ homes, expecting us to believe their main places of residence are a seaside caravan, a sister’s spare bedroom or a parent’s house. There’s one couple here in London that claim for a ‘second’ home, 400yards from the Houses of Parliament, when their constituency residence is only 8 miles further. They spend more time filling out their expenses claims than on sorting out the country’s problems. After all, how petty can you get to claim 88p for a bathplug! They’ve no shame at what they are doing, and feeble regrets when they are caught out. If they could find the time to get their snouts out of the trough long enough, they should look around and see what the real world looks like from the other side of the fence. Most of them are a waste of space, perfectly summed up by Mr Purchase.

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Aldridge-Brownhills MP Richard Shepherd said: “The MP salary is less than that of the head of a big secondary school”.
Mr Shepherd, the head of a big secondary school will have numerous qualifications and years of training to do the job.
They are also a benefit to the community.

What qualifications do you have or need to be an MP?

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can we please stop this! lab our minister this conservative that..
what we are not realising is that all political parties have in their time been in power and have contributed to the way the rules on expenses ect have been made! you cannot just blame Gordon Brown, blame all parties as they are all in it for their own benefits.. some are now saying that they will not accept thisyears payrise, howabout having a cut in pay like alot of folk have! I have to try and keep my job! all expenses ect should be open to the public domain and as to the guy/gal who is releasing thisinfo then I put them forward for an OBE,, at least one job well done!

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I wouldn’t expect the Dodgers to say anything else; to me and MILLION more who pay there wages don’t think so. There excuse is they could get more in the Private sector LoL!!

All I can say is S-d off and see if you can get a cushier job there then, and as for what mr Austin said, quote; “I am giving up any pay increase this year as I think increasing my pay would be the wrong thing to do.” Un quote.

How good of him… £147,505 plus his £65,000 wages expenses……Nearly £5000 pound per week……. Bl—dy Obscene.

The sooner an independent auditor…. and I mean “independent” not one of there “friends” goes in and checks them all out no one will be satisfied in what excuses the MPs come up with.

On the TV last night it was said this arks back to the 70s when that joke of an PM Mr Foot….What party was he?? Oh yes Labour!! was in Charge LoL He told his fellow MPs to try to put has much down to expenses they can to make up there wages……..So the TAX PAYER as been ripped off for 40 years ………Knows time for payback.

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One way to stop this living allowance rip off for MPs is for them to book into a hotel….No furniture to buy, No TVs to buy, No sinks to Buy so they wouldn’t have to buy a sink plug…. and no need to pay there spouse to clean. Not forgeting just one policeman on the door.

What did Ms Smith claim for a “bed-sit” ….Over One Hundred Grand… £100,000 pounds…..What !………Based on a year.. Deducting 90 days holidays then 104 days for weekends, that would leave, say …171 nights in Hotel……about £585 pounds per night….who’s taking the pea??

They could get a very nice room in the centre of London for £150 pound per night, what a fantastic saving for the Tax Payer.

And don’t forget by doing this they wouldn’t need a mortgage for them to pocket the Equity when they sell it, another bonus for the Tax Payer.

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i have come to the conclusion that mps do not care one jot about the british public they should be setting an example by not having a rise at all i think they have forgot who really employs them and who pays their wages they are there to do our bidding as for comparing themselves to other people letshaoutonteuaia a 650mps have got it would not be enough to get or keep a job in any other walk of life the answer to the housing expenses could be sorted uot by her majestys prison service jail everyone of those that are on the fiddle there will not be many left

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Martin Davies, constituencies have a tendency to be pretty stable things, what’s wrong with building a constituency office in each ward, that office then gets used by anyone elected to represent the electors in an area, then that removes the need for an MP to be paid for using their home to work from.

Then they can be like real workers, when they are working they go to the office, when they are not they go home, simple!!!!!!!

When they are in London, a block of flats is purchased and is turned into a hotel where all MP’s have to use, as an accommodation, no more need to bother with expense accounts, all their office expenses gets monitored by an independent firm of accountants.

Why should anyone need to travel to London?

Werewolf that’s exactly right, Dave Nellist stands head and shoulders above any other MP, he had the guts to live the lifestyle of the people he worked hard to represent, he was man enough to give his money away to charities and that allowed him to experience the hardship his constituents had to endure, surviving on the same wage level as them.

pete smith, the reason it happens is that 70% of the voting population of Briton think the government is doing a wonderful job, in fact they are that assured, that they sit on their backsides instead of using their vote, the only time any government will take the British people seriously enough to carry out their wishes is when 95% of the British bother to vote.

My personal experience is that all we need are enough people to forward letters on to the various government departments that’s all MP’s do.

I wrote to Prescott complaining about the Driving Standards Agency, all he did was forward my complaint to them? He did nothing.

I wrote to Gordon Brown, to complain about Out of Hours doctors refusing to do home visits, he forwarded my letter onto the Department of Health, they told me to contact my local Health Department that I was complaining about!!!!!

When my mother was in hospital dying of terminal cancer, because I was unemployed I was unable to visit her unless I was given a lift there, the cost of parking was would have wiped out my benefits, I wrote to John Speller informing him of my plight and asking him to step in and get something done to change the system so unemployed and people on benefits could park for free, his reply “ Parking charges are reasonable and why should the system be changed just for my benefit, many others also had to pay the parking charges”

What a wonderful caring person he is.

I don’t blame these MP’s for ripping us off, the working class in this country are bone idle, back stabbing, gutless morons, why they should treat us with any respect.

Jim of Bearwood.

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I suggest that somewhere in London there could be provided a safe & secure complex of flats suitable for MP’s to live in when they are in the Capital. Like, for example, an army barracks complex where elected MP’s would reside during their period of election. The flats could be fitted out with basic equipment, fitted wardrobes, washing machine, cooker, etc & the MP’s would then have no cause to utilise tax payer’s money for other luxurious equipment they require. At the end of their period in office the flats could be inspected before newly elected MP’s move in. Our soldiers & students have to live in such accommodation so why not MP’s?

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IT MAKES ME SICK INSIDE TO HEAR THESE RICH MP’s SAYING THEY ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY.GET REAL YOU WASTERS IN PARLIAMENT AND TRY LIVING ON THE MINIMUM WAGE AND STRUGGLE TO PAY EVER INCREASING PRICES OF EVERY DAY GOODS.

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Dudley Bloke – Mr Foot was NEVER Prime Minister!

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Do not vote for these over paid useless waste of so call MP’S How many times have you see them ?
No when it comes down to doing a real job
were are they watching free adult movies which the tax payer’s has payed for.
They must laughing all the way to our bank accounts
Do they realy care about the working class yes they do but not for the right reasons

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Mat – Let not your cynicism run away with you. Most councillors (and most MPs for that matter) do plenty of little things every day that never receive publicity; and, indeed, very often involve confidential dealings to help constituents that simply cannot be publicised.

Conversely, if a councillor shuns the media spotlight and just quietly gets on with his job in the background, the usual charge is wheeled out that ‘we never see him except at election time’.

And anyway, if being a councillor is such a doddle why is that all political parties often scratch around trying to find candidates – even in winnable seats?

The alternative remains that if you are not happy with your local councillors then get off your a**e and stand for election yourself! However, if past form is anything to go by then the stampede to the electoral registration office is unlikely to be deafening.

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Re Richard Shepherds statement: Given the way responsibilities have evolved over the years, I am surprised that the differential between Heads of Schools etc. and MPs is not now wider.

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LETS FACE IT.its one law for them and another for us. were we to do the same wed be nicked but they get away with by creative accounting most likely their accountants supplied by their bent banker mates,i wonder how many of them have off shore bank accounts where their slush funds are stashed…

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The really scary thing here is the UK probably has the LEAST corrupt government in the world. Goodness only knows how the “banana republic” states operate.

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no wonder the politics degree courses at the universities across the country never have any spaces , i earn about 16000 gross and after deductions about 12000, so for about 4000 pounds i can get help from my m.p. who gets a basic 800 a week for any problem i might have . or for free from citizens advice , who do i choose?? no brainer

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Comment to Councillor No. 50
I know where my local councillor is every single day and night!………..In his local pub….. perhaps he passes this off as his advice surgery. -Dont think so, some how – how is he fit to attend meetings either day or night – now that is what gets to me to think that I along with other tax payers are paying for this, when you do ask them for help – all councillors of the same party stick together and clam up – cant get nothing out of them at all they are all ok saying they have put there comments forward – but who really knows?
The Local community that do have opinions and abit about them – would not get into council, or if they did not for long as there face wouldnt fit – dont like people with voices do they!! they all seem to be characters of calm, and easily pursueded (walk over-basically)- so No My Dear Councillor – I dont think The Public’s Vote does mean anything – councillors do what they want when they want, – it is not about representing the community to the council anymore – it is about secret hand shake, back handed decisions behind closed doors. – Problem is people have lost all faith in there councillors and government – so they think what is the point of voting. – If a councillor wants to make a difference in the community they live why not volunteer your services – like it used to be years ago!!

Why are local services suffering? why are fire stations closing? if you are talking of saving tax payers money consider why a local councillor has basically supported the closure of a fire station on his door step – only to the fact of his “own Party” had the majority vote on the fire authority to which he is a member also – he had over 13k people supporting him – why didnt he stand up and fight, the only person who did was the MP that people are quick to Slate – Mr Austin.
Mr Austin has always been supportive and avaiable whenever I have requested his help and advice – which is more than I can say for any of my local councillors. – So if you want MP’s expenses scruntinsed – start at Local Councillors First.

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Brian I am definitely working class, everything I have I have worked for, that includes working 7 days a week, 12 hour shifts, and that was to earn a take home pay of a little over £100 a week, I owe nothing to anyone.

The reason for my comment, if there was an election tomorrow, I would stake my life on the fact that if you wanted an undisturbed sleep then the place to would be a polling booth, we are bone idle,70% of the people in this ward wouldn’t bother to use their vote, that’s a fact, there are various reasons for that, that I can only speculate on.

I am sure people think that if they vote for someone the opposing candidates will know and they will be struck down dead!!!!!

Others have more important things to do like go shopping, play Bingo, and of course people cant miss their darts or dominoes, then there are the really intelligent ones who don’t vote because non off them listen, or make the excuse that they are all the same, what all these people are really saying is that they are too gutless to make a commitment and instead wait for everyone else to do the job for them.

Brian, Gutless? You get into trouble and try to find a fellow working class person to support you, trust me I have been there, I was a Union Official and to get people to attend meetings or support union action to fight for their rights, was always a waste of time.

Brian please prove me wrong, I would love to have proof that I lived in a world where people stood up for their rights.

Sadly, I have to confirm that I stand by every word of my previous comment.

Jim of Bearwood.

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Point taken Jim you are quite right about people, rights and backing you up. I’ve come across quite few situations like that in life.

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CB. Expenses are expenses as you say, but look at Jacqui Smith. She claims for her second home in Redditch, saying her 1st home is a bedroom in her sister’s house. This is perfectly legal and above board but morally wrong. She is just putting a spin on the situation to claim more of the tax payers money as expenses. It ain’t across the board but these anomalies should be stamped out sooner rather than later.

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CB, there was a system that operated in the UK, where people volunteered their services as councillors and were hopefully elected by the people that they chose to represent, one of the benefits of that system was that only totally dedicated people wanted to participate in local government, they chose to use their skills to enhance the lives of others.

Then the system changed!!!!!!!

Those changes had the same effect on politics as the astronomic increase in footballers wages had on sport.

Some of the most skilful footballers in the UK, could be seen kicking a ball about in the local park, they were totally obsessed with playing their sport for the pleasure it gave, being paid telephone number salaries didn’t even enter their minds, then money became a status symbol, the number of noughts on the end of their salaries was an indication of how wonderful they were perceived to be in the publics eyes, sadly like councillors and MP’s their pay is not related to their performance or their ability to do the job they are paid to do.

Jim of Bearwood.

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69) who are you trying to kid? no one forces you to do any job. you choose.

the kickbacks none of you report, FLEXI-HOURS and cushy desk jobs must certainly ease the “burden”?

You and your ‘employer’s’ blatant disregard for the rights and well-being of the average citizen, enforcing legislature in the face of reason, means it is all to easy to despise you and your ranks.

I can only hope that in this lifetime gvt infrastructure gets totally overhauled and leeches such as yourself are removed.

councillors, politicians, diplomats, all in the same bin please.

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