Monday 11 May 2009

Sorry Theresa, but I’m not a hypocrite


It gives me no pleasure to criticise Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, whose expenses were disclosed in the Daily Telegraph today, but I have previously criticised Barnet’s two other MPs, Rudi inVisible and Andrew Dismore, over their allowances, and it would be hypocritical of me to ignore Theresa’s claims when the same argument applies to her.

It is not asking too much of an MP to commute 12 miles a day to work. Indeed, there is no justification for any MP whose constituency lies within 60 miles of Westminster requiring a second home at the taxpayers’ expense.

Parliament does not sit 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year, so why do we have to pay the interest on MPs mortgages for that period? On the rare occasions when Parliament sits late into the night, MPs could be given a voucher for an overnight stay in a designated hotel. There are plenty in Westminster that would undoubtedly welcome the business. Think of all the jobs it would secure.

If it is not bad enough having to pay towards MPs second homes, it transpires that they have also been able to claim back the Stamp Duty, legal costs and estate agents fees which we mere mortals are compelled to pay.

Ms Villiers told the Telegraph that all of her claims “are legitimate and within the rules.” That they were within the rules is not in doubt, but it doesn’t make it right.

Theresa, I gave up my FA Cup Final ticket in 2003 so that I could vote for you at the selection meeting when we choose you to be Sir Sydney Chapman’s successor. I didn’t give it up so that you could build a property portfolio at my expense.

This money should be repaid, and Andrew Dismore should also pay back every penny which he has claimed for his second home.

Sadly, there is nothing we can do about Rudi Vis who is stepping down at the next election, having already milked the system to pay towards his retirement home by the sea-side. In an ideal world we could claw back the money from his gold plated index linked pension which we are also going to pay for.

MPs must understand that the gravy train has now reached the end of the platform. It’s time for them to pay us back our money.

2 comments:

Rog T said...

David,

It could not be clearer, the system stinks and politicians on all sides have behaved atrociously. They should be sacked. That is what happens in every other industry.

The salary is generous enough and legitimate expenses would upset no one. There are MP's who haven't abused the system. The fact that all three barnet MP's have milked it is disgraceful

Don't Call Me Dave said...

Rog

I know it’s an old cliché, but I wrote this post more in sorrow than in anger. Theresa was not the first MP to exploit the system, but that doesn’t make it any easier to accept. I just don’t understand how politicians generally have become so detached from reality that they can’t see the damage they have caused to what was once the finest democratic institution on the planet.

Did people really give their lives in the War so that Jacqui Smith’s husband could watch porn at our expense? It is simply sickening.

Notice how we haven’t heard a word from the councillor whose name escapes you about this subject? Hopefully we won’t ever again.