• Rebels in the vote

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I think it will be interersting to see how much more gets done about situations involving money and taxes when the ministers arent so well off.
There are a lot of people who would be thrilled to make 16.5k a year!!!

- Kellie, minneapolis

The test will come if the Tories win the next election. Will Cameron anger the Tory "Grandees" further or will he retreat on the whole issue and leave things as they are.
T H Leeds

- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK

this is only the outer london mps.what about the likes of Jacqui Smith,awell known abuser of the rules?I think the majority of mps are tainted .

- Frank, manchester

These plonkers dont know the meaning of the word hardship,but they sure will after the next election.

- David, london

Oh, what a shame! Make the skiving sods get proper jobs!l

- Archie, Thrapston, England

All MPs should be voted out next election. So they can work for a change and pay taxes. All the MPs and MEPs are underworked, overpaid, overpampered.

- B. Parekh, London

The second home allowance claimed has been used by many to provide a capital gain (exempt I believe) at the end of their term of office. So we are paying so that they can further line their pockets (purses).

As for "One MP said there would be "hardship" particularly among women MPs trying to balance Westminster hours.", they were hired (elected) to do a job, not raise a family, and should do the job paid for, not to allow them time off to raise their family, their choice. Otherwise, salary should be adjusted.

I agree with the comments that on their salary they (particularly London MPs) should suffer like the rest of us relating to the expense of travelling etc, absorb the cost. Their salary is not small.

- Hugh, Middx

Like hell they will. These scoundrels have ripped this country to pieces. They are thieves and should be gaoled, their homes sold to repay what they have stolen.

- G.A.Gilmartin, Bristol,

So I guess a salary of over 60.000 a year is a hardship for London MP's.Plus an additional £7.000. Then I suggest they get another job, and let someone else do the job. I will would bet that not one MP leaves the Job because of the cut back in those rotten benefits they have been stealing "within the rules".

- Ebin Donk, angus scotland

My heart bleeds for these MP's - they have never had it so good.....one only has to see Parliament on TV to realise how few are actually there anyway.....its about time the public stopped paying for this lark.....charity begins at home!

- Yvette, preston Lancs

Oh Dear, how jolly sad for them - now they can get an idea of how the rest of us live!!

- Suzy, London, England

MPs hardship? let them explain why directly to our pensioners.

- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester

Just live within your means!

- K Lee, Cheshunt, UK

The whole thing is a can of worms. A lot of the MPs who claim and get these allowances, are probably expected to contribute to their party funds and of course, they do. I suppose this is the British version of the elusive thing called Democracy, in the UK.

- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK

"...Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country....." - JFK

- Sylvia Garcia, London

If I had their salaries I would manage quite well using a bed and breakfast or guest house . The proper way to deal with the homes problem is to bar anyone from standing as candidates for MPs jobs who don't live within the agreed homes allowances limits.The second homes racket must be scrapped NOW.

- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK

Why wait till next April before stopping this racket?
All outer London MPs should not just stop claiming, they should be made to pay back ALL the second homes allowances they have already claimed - with interest.

- Eric J, London, England

If they do not like the job and its pay, perks and pensions; then they are free to go and find another job.

We want conviction politicians that are dedicated and honest; not a load of carpet baggers and ponces.

- Mickyinlondon, london

Why a second home allowance for MPs at all?! Others travelling much more than 20 miles to work and don't get a penny for it at all, not even half of the MP salary. They are happy to have a job! If they are so unhappy with their jobs and feel they are loosing out, why don't they not just look for another job that meets their needs instead of complaining. Kindergarden, welcome to the real world!

- Mark, London

I get paid to do a job without any sort of financial assistance so why should M.Ps get extra on what they earn.
Do the job as paid minus the perks or get out.You probably will next elections.

- Essexkid, essex

Second home allowances for MPs of outer-London constituencies are not justifiable. But provision for expenses of overnight accommodation should be made in the case of late-night sittings. The whole matter of MPs' pay and expenses needs independent review to produce a fair and acceptable payment package, covering all situations. Instant sticking-plaster solutions dealing with only one or two aspects are a typical Brown manoeuvre and do nothing to solve the general problem.

- Richard Shaw, Pinner, UK

I always thought the tapeworm was the most efficient parasite known to man!

- Paul, London

At a time when many people who are fortunate to have a job have taken a pay cut, our MPs have had a pay rise. Therefore, in real relative terms they are not £16,500 poorer.

If they don't like their pay and conditions, then they can continue whinging, and receive the sympathy they deserve; or resign and find a job that pays them what they are really worth. McDonalds might have a few jobs going.

- John, Dorset, UK

Adam of Harrow has the right idea: here's a suggestion. Opposite Waterloo is the Union Jack Club, where service personnel (and ex, I think ) can lay their heads when they're passing through London. Basic decent accommodation, I imagine. If we accept that our MPs are supposed to be serving the country, give them membership, and they can pay the same rate as a squaddie waiting to catch an early train. What could be simpler?

- Mdj E10, london uk

I travel further than 20 miles to London every day and do not get my fares paid on expenses or get 80 day summer holidays. There is no need for MPs within 50 miles of London to get housing allowances. If they were as good at running the economy as lining their own pockets we might not be in recession. Every single expense claim should be audited by an independent committee of struggling pensioners, young unemployed, first time buyers and housewives.

- John From Kent, Gravesend, Kent

How DARE they,the immoral so called M Ps...pensioners live on an income of less than 7 thousand a year...boot them all out ,make them all pay back the taxpayers money!!!!

- Jean, London England

These MPs don’t truly know the meaning of hardship. The local Council Tax takes every dam penny from one of my pensions every week, like millions of others ‘Robber Brown’ has attacked by closing the Goalposts on pension earnings and added TAX.

- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset

There are no words left for me to describe the contempt that I feel for our current crop of MPs especially the spongers in the Labour party. If I was in the Labour party I would not be worrying about my expenses I would be worrying about my next job!
I can sort out the issue of travelling expenses in a few hours, it is simple. Find the MP who lives farthest from Westminster, work out fair travelling expenses for them and then allow other MPs who live closer - a travelling expense based on a sliding scale. The nearer you get to Westminster the less you get. This should mean that those living in Greater London or just outside will get very little because they have access to a good transport system.
After that we can start on local council officials I suggest a cap on wages with no more given to a council official than that given to a basic MP. What do these over paid pen pushers actually do? So that would be about £65,000 not £200,000!

- William Ear, Waltham Cross

Obviously Gordon Brown expects the Review to hit them harder.So he rushed this through so as he could claim to have already done something and ignore it.

- Bill, Belfast

It is not surprising that the people who voted against were Tories. They seem content to point the finger at Labour MP's while feathering their own nests. It is just like journalists criticising the Tax increases for the highly paid while the majority of voters are in favour. With a bit of luck the cut in expenses will cause the Tory Fatcats to emigrate.

- J Bark, Ruislip England

How sad that our hard working and fearless in the cause of democracy MP's have on paper lost out. I hope that a loophole can be found to ease their pain,at no point in their career would I want them to understand what its like to be a boring member of the public.Cant wait to meet my MP's at election time,is there anyway a fund for destitute and penniless MP's be found..sob..sob.

- Jonnie Of Brixton, brixton,london,england

"MP's could find themselves in negative equity". Well thanks to their handling of the economy they are simply joining the rest of us. If they decided to try and makemoney out of what is supposed to be a living allowance then I hope they are financially inconvenienced. That is sort of the point Mr.Dismore!!!

- Mark, London

So the M.P's that have been scrounging our money are now upset because they have been caught out and will lose the money NEXT year....! Bearing in mind that my pension has been stolen & I cannot afford to let my daughter continue in education even though my holiday next year is dumping my entire family on my parents doorstep do they think I am willing to even think about sympathy?
Its time for change. I am voting for someone else. Anyone else. I am prepared to vote for Andy Pandy or Bill & Ben to get rid of this lot....!

- Dene Wood, Grays, Essex, That little country by the sea that used to have

Women MPs have already had the House of Commons timetable changed to enable them more sociable working hours - it used to be that the House would sit until the early hours - now most work is done 9.30am-5pm - occasionally working outside these times. I still cannot see how they have been disadvantaged by these proposals (apart from not being allowed to line their pockets with taxpayers money)

- Andy, london

So the rest of us are not worse off since this Government took office? Tax after tax - all by stealth and the raiding of pension funds has certainly not made us any richer. MPs on £64K per year plus any thing else they earn as wells the gold plated pensions still makes them a lot beter off then the majority nof the public. Shame they will ow have to buy bath plugs out of their own money. However , I do agree that the mis-Governmewnt should have waited for the results of the full review.

- Strongbow Sullivan, Paris,France

I see J.Lait my local MP is on the list against banning the expences (hers have always been among the highest)so thats my Tory vote gone and having never supported Labour ( I remember the 60s & 70s hardships they caused) I am running out of parties to consider!

- Mike, London England

I very much doubt these ' honourable members' either deserve any sympathy, or will suffer in any way. i would imagine most have fingers in many pies and the fact that they swanned around Westminster will have ensured they have been well networked and have generous alternative income strategies lined up to replace. i do however trust that us Joe soaps will diligently scrutinies the boards of any companies we have dealings with and make it plain that we will have no truchk with any that employ these rather devious and certainly untrustworthy former ' honorable members.'

- M.O'Brien, london.uk

welcome to reality,after years on easy street a healthy and i trust severe dose of the world as most know it is no bad thing. one hopes that we don't slip back into the days of living high on the hogs back, but given the conniving and devious machinations of those that stalk the corridors of power i think their will to serve only themselves will reign supreme.

- M.O'Brien, london.uk

Potential Hardship ? On the money they earn. Easy solution: Leave, and let someone else who won't line their pockets do the job.

- Tony ,Essex, Harlow,UK

One of the MPs in yesterdays spoke the truth in saying that to his electorate his salary of £64k would seem like a king's ransom.This contrasted with the MP on Question Time who has a non-executive directorship paying £24k for 10 to 12 days "work".It would be exceleent to see MPs experiencing a little pain.We have to put up with their nonsense telling us how hard they work and what talents they have....reality kicks in when we see the results of their management.Incompetency at every level and yet they merely move around the Cabinet table.

- P Doff, paris france

One MP said there would be "hardship" particularly among women MPs trying to balance Westminster hours...Didnt they understand the hours invloved before standing for election?

- Ade, London

No sympathy - These MPs have been milking the system for all its worth, and doing their level best to keep the whole rotten thing quiet(there are a few exceptions. If they have some hardship - well welcome to the real world. Still, they will still have their very generous pension to look forward to.

- Jeremy E, London

im glad for email etc. i was going to write to your news paper. but i was sobbing so much for these poor people ,i ran out of toilet paper

- Mikeee, peterborough uk

the state of the country we should be marching to westminster with pitchforks, we need a revolution, they all no good

- Peter Woods, UK

Can some one please explain what "hardship" the MPs will suffer as a result of the clamp down on their "expenses".They can dine in cafes like the rest of us or would that be beneath their dignity. They could also think about taking packed lunches like the rest of have to do. A nation of sheep will beget a Government of wolves.
T H Leeds

- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK

MPs dont know the meaning of the world hardship.For some of them only being able to buy one porn movie a week now that it can not be put on their expense account must seem hard to them.

- David, london

So our poncy MP's are hard up!why dont they leave their trade and go on to do something else and stop moaning!Im sick and tired of hearing all these sob stories about our so called 'honorable members'.Get out do something else stop moaning!

- Serafim, london

Are the Labour MPs the only ones to be claiming this second homes allowance and the rest. How many and who claims the allowances are from the other parties not to mention the "Lords" gettig paid £100 per day for just turning up. Will the public, the serfs, get a chance to protest. Dont wait up.
T H Leeds

- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK

I'll be quite happy to stand for a seat in any of the parties. I don't care which one as I only fancy the money!
As my wife assures me that I talk a load of clap-trap I guess I would be well qualified for the job.

- Scotty, Cambridge UK

Only those who live at a reasonable distance from the Commons should be able to stand for Parliament. Better still, convert one of the many Palaces the Royals use, in to a dormitory building to house them all.The whole thing has developed in to a racket. They are paid enough money to pay for bed and breakfast accommodation out of their salaries.
T H Leeds

- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK

Tsk, tsk.

A backbencher gets £64,000 a year, so any of them that experience hardship need to be cut down to the average wage that many people have to get by one under similar circumstances, because they are clearly being profligate with their money.

- Brenda Blessed, Plymouth, England

"hardship" yeah right...I think they have milked the gravy train long enough...at last the train has hit the buffers!!! Poor sods I do feel for them NOT!!!

- Mark, Sidcup

Lots of people travel into London everyday and they are not earning the sums MP's are. How can someone in Hendon need a second home? That is just being lazy. I have more sympathy for those who live beyond the M25 are. Angela Wilkinson needs to retire and stop sucking tax payers dry.

- Mary, Hornchurch,Essex

mmm. Ann Keen and her husband Alan Keen should be feeling the heat now! welcome to the real world!Bet their not so KEEN on ripping off us now!

- Raminder Bhalla, Isleworth

Poor things.

I hope a lot of them of the Labour persuasion will be suffering far greater "hardship" after the forthcoming election!

- Nigel, London

They could, of course, give up being MP's, and actually WORK for their livings.....

- Lezli Taubler, London / UK

So the MP for Upminster, 40 mins tube journey from Westminster, thinks that she has to claim £20000 per year to travel to work otherwise she wont be able to do the job. If thats the case how do all the nurses and teachers and other ordinary people manage to do their jobs in london without having their travel paid for them?. If she feels so hard done by she should resign and let someone else do the job. Biggest joke is that she has a freedom pass so it actually costs her nothing to travel anyway.

- Theresa, essex uk

My heart bleeds for them!!!,welcome to the real world!!.They will just have to budget like the rest of us!!.

- Andy, london

In the last year Parliament sat for just 165 days, and not all MP’s were in attendance at all times. That left 200 days to be somewhere else.

Other than the actual members of the government itself who presumably are gainfully employed in their departments, it does mean the rest could quite comfortably get a proper job to supplement their income. The important side of that means that MP’s have time to get some life experience in a real work and relate to the people they are said to represent.

- Ian, Reading, England

Ah bless! Must be a tough life on a basic income of approx. £141,000 a year.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

Total rubbish and just another example of how they all still want to reward failure. Whoever gets my vote (100% not labour) will have to have some clear enforcable rules that will see these and other perks scrapped and not just the usual lies and promises as seen past 10+ years from GB etc

- Mike, London England

Ahh boo hoo, welcome to a land called reality where the rest of us live.

- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London UK

"One MP said there would be "hardship" particularly among women MPs" Really? Hardship is that suffered by former members of the Forces who enrolled at the age of 15 and who served until 30 or older and do not get a pension. In my own case I worked for a further unpensionable 5 years for the MOD. A total of eleven years without a pension, a good chunk of anyone's working life. Good luck to the Gurkhas but it twists the knife to read of terrorists getting £400 a week from the State.

- Fred, Horsham

They could always sell their bath plugs on ebay.

- Oap, Wrexham

Hardship, my ass!

- Trisha, East Croydon

There is a simple answer to the need for second homes for some MP's i.e. those whose constituency homes are outside London and commuting each day is not an option.

The House of Commons / Lords should purchase / build a block of one bedroom flats with basic accommodation and provide these free of charge to MPs. This way there'd be no need for second homes or the John Lewis list.

Any eligible MP would be able to apply for one of these apartments provided that he/she didn't already have the use of Grace & Favour accommodation.

I'm sure there is some ex-council owned stock that could be made available, preferably on a nice sink estate. This way the MPs would gain an insight into the conditions that some people are forced to live in.

- Adam, Harrow, UK

I commute over 50 miles each way into London every day. I earn about half what most MPs earn (without their expenses) and I manage, so why can't they?

- Margy, London

Typical Brown - The Great I am can come up with a 20 mile limit when everyone else understands that it should be based on travelling time (as in Scotland). The Kelly Cte needs to address this.

I have not been able to find any reference to allowances for people living in Grace and Favour accomodation. Does this mean that Gordon will continue to pick up his allowance?

- David Burns, Beckenham

Simple thing to remember next time the voters go to the polls, did your MP vote for or against the cutting of expenses?

If the MP did and you think your taxes should pay for such expenses, vote yes!

- Manny Goldstein, London, UK

Greedy Pigs.....They should learn to live in the real world, thy may then make better laws and regulations.

- E.Nuff, London

I was going to post something on here, but Dave Davies and C Cusano have already said it for me, word for word!

- Napoleon Blownaparte, London

aaaaaaaH! Join the real world! It may do them good to see what it is like for the people they are supposed to govern.

- Vanessa, London

20 miles is not enough, Guildford is 29 miles from Central London and I take the train everyday, it costs £3200 per year including the tube. Why not issue MP's with a free standard class rail card between their home and the house of commons. The trains to most destinations run a service that covers approximatley 20 hours out of 24 so there should be no issue with this twaddle about having to sit long hours, its a job done by choice with many more applicants than vacancies.

- Howard, Guildford, UK

Labour don't tell you the real facts. The rushed in change only takes effect from 2010! We shouldn't all jump on the band waggon whilst some MP's are taking our money on false pretences others realy do have significant costs of doing their job. The rule which should be strictly applied is costs reimbursed should be wholly necessarily and exclusively - many MP's have failed to grasp this.

- Billg, Slough

The results of the review will name and shame MP’s from all parties and will be reflected in the election next year and it is not a forgone conclusion that the
conservatives will win?

All MP’s are showing their contempt of taxpayers by still holding on to expenses until next year and the vote should have stopped the payments forthwith.

Also this review should be on a yearly basis and results available to all taxpayers as is results to company shareholders.

- P. C., rainham. essex.

you have 20 weeks holidays , maybe you could find some casual work

- Don Stone, nw london

How are outer London MPs sacrificial lambs - they have been given extra payments which will more than cover the cost of their Oyster card for their daily commute into Parliament. One home and an Oyster card is all they need to do their job. There are people who travel far further every day to work 48 weeks a year and still manage to do their jobs and look after their families on a much lower salary.

- Andy, london

Why only Outer London MP's, people from Luton - (Hello Keith Price) work in London and most of them on considerably less than 64,000 without 'second homes' and free travel. MP's should not allowed to claim for a second home within 100 miles of Westminster.

- Jim, London

It is an insult to law abiding tax payers to suggest that MPs face hardship if they are not awarded a "second home" allowance. It is totally unacceptable to claim that a spare room in a sister's house is a "main" home whilst claiming for a "second home". If MPs are unhappy at being denied this allowance then they are free to step down and allow someone else to fill the post.

- R.F., Yorks, UK

Welcome to the real world.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke

Poor things! Over GBP70,000 p.a. and that still is not enough.

They should try existing on GBP18.57 PER DAY that pensioners have to live on.

I am positive there will be street parties across the UK the day Gormless Brown vacates Downing Street.

- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK

Ah diddams!

- C Cusano, Bedford

Oh,dear,
How sad,
What a pity,
My heart bleeds for them......................NOT.

Just a little taste of the real world starts to enter MP's lives.

- Nigel, wimbledon

When the MPs who have claimed "second home" allowances lose their seats at the next election hose "second homes" must be sold and the proceeds returned to the public purse as they have been paid for and furnished by the tax payers. I presume Jacqui Smith will claim that her sister's spare room is no longer her "main" home.

- R.F., Yorks, UK

Any of them complaining should resign and get a real job. They will then see that IR tax them on benefits in kind.

- Colin, SEVILLA ESPANA

Hardship.

On £64,000 per year.

Come off it.

These greedy idiots wouldnt know hardship if it hit them in the face.

Try living on mimimum wage and then talk about "hardship".

- Derek North, Bridgend.

Hopefully they will be worse off - they should never had such a profligate allowance paid in the first place. As for people "trying to balance Westminster hours..." they knew what they were in the first place and are shorter now than ever before - and MP's get huge holiday periods where they can do as much or as little work in their constituencies as they choose.

- Robin, Brentford, UK

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