This is a deeply irresponsible move by The Telegraph. The implication of wrongdoing is intense, where there have been no rule violations. MPs take advantage of their £24,222 additional costs allowance – no surprise. The hacks at The Telegraph are in no position to suggest mock Tudor boards or loo seats are an inappropriate expenditure: that is the job of the bodies in the House.
The investigation, if you can call it that, will do no benefit to the right and Conservative cause. It will be the case that David Cameron will have a significant majority in twelve months time, regardless of the Telegraph’s campaign. The piece will extend pressure on all MPs from all parties to bring forward details of their accounts. But the perception of secrecy is wrong: the public could have known that Hazel Blears claimed her full allowance, to the pound, for many years by simply typing her name into Google, http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ lists all MPs expenses. It’s not that much of an exposure.
The media agenda – left or right – know that most of us are too short sighted to apply some reason and see beyond this storm in a tea cup. The self-satisfied and superior approach of those such as Heather Brooke is so backward: more transparency is not needed. Nick Clegg’s opportunism wasn’t much better – the ‘I’ve always argued’ approach is one thing that certainly is transparent.
Politics is being dragged through the mire at the most inappropriate time: recession, European and local elections, and a general election – all crucial – are fading to grey as a result of the fixation about 646 of our elected members earning an effective salary of £100,000. There are much greater injustices going on in the public sector.
Faith in Member’s of Parliament is at an all time low, along with voter turnout. The general elections of 2001 and 2005 saw 59 and 61 per cent of voters make their mark – terrible. Propaganda which detracts from an institution composed of mostly 100% honest and hard-working people is horribly unlikely to put low turnout into retreat.
The only redeeming feature of the twenty stories came in our learning that John Prescott spent the £4,800 maximum on his food allowance. But the most simple and fair solution for the flap is rather unpalatable but most sensible: increase MPs salaries, and cut the allowances. No ambiguity, no need for the gutter press to suck the life out of Parliament.
Today’s Telegraph
Page 1: “The truth about the Cabinet’s expenses”
Page 2: “Tricks of the trade, from shifting ‘second homes’ to profiting after taxpayer-funded renovations,” “Rules state that claims must be ‘value for money,’” “Civil servants rarely query the integrity of members”
Page 3: “Brown’s house swap that let him claim thousands,” “Brother has never been far from Prime Minister’s side,” “Bolt-hole a mile from No10”
Page 4: “Public paid the Chancellor’s stamp duty,” “The £1.7 million property built on the back of the MPs’ expenses system,” “Gardener queried necessity of the work he was asked to carry out”
Page 5: “Sorry but accountancy is not my strong suit, said Straw”
Page 6: “Claims for three properties in a year,” “Mandelson put in £3,000 bill as he was quitting as MP,” “Pergolas, planters and garden pots,” “£3,400 bill for new plumbing system after the water came out too hot”
Page 7: “Grant my expenses, or I may be facing divorce, minister pleads”
Page 8: “£30,000 improvements to group to go up in flames,” “No queries on $14,000 claim for stamp duty and fees,” “Millionaire minister received £100,000 to help pay mortgage,”
Page 9: “Two loo seats in two years, cost of life with Prezza”
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