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Commons deserted after expenses scandal
11 May 2009This was the House of Commons at the start of its first full day's sitting since the expenses scandal broke.
Despite furiously complaining that their hard work requires them to have second homes, most were curiously missing from the chamber.
The Evening Standard counted 41 MPs present for Work and Pensions Questions, the first event after the sitting began at 2.30pm.
That was not unusually low for a Monday afternoon, because many MPs drift back slowly from their weekend's spent at homes in the country or their constituencies.
But it was a topic that would be expected to draw a big crowd of Labour MPs, given their interest in the welfare system and social reform. James Purnell was answering questions, flanked by ministers Tony McNulty and Kitty Ussher who were both embroiled in claims about their expenses.
The number of MPs in the chamber rose to almost 60 - well under a tenth of the 646 MPs - as MPs came in ahead of a statement by the Speaker about their expenses claims.
There were at one stage 27 Labour, 25 Tories and four Liberal Democrats.
Reader views (6)
I wish we could do something to make our Congress stay away for awhile. Every time they meet they "help us" some more and it costs Billions.
- James Andrews, sacramento, California USA, 12/05/2009 06:23
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I expect the absense by members was for them getting quotes for early warning and intruder alarms,(on the expenses,of course)to ward off irate constituents. As to having constituency 'surgeries', I expect some may indeed be needing surgery if they put their heads too far above the parapet. It should all be re-couped and prosecutions should ensue. Just like benefit fraudsters. The secrets of the Masons are about as important as where Johnny hides his sweeties, compared to what the Westminster Mafia get up to. A new TV show maybe for the biggest claimers, BRITAINS GOT....WESTMINSTER!
- Pete T, St Neots Cambs, 12/05/2009 00:36
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Rats/ship/sinking?
- Meldroo, Oldham, England, 11/05/2009 17:58
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be fair now...John Lewis isn't open on sundays....
- Amoreno, Luxembourg, 11/05/2009 16:52
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Oh. So this is what's called 'democracy'. A day's work for a day's pay! Just another example of the total contempt that this bunch of idle thieves holds for the mugs that provide their bloated unearned incomes. Sack the lot of them, and abolish their pensions.
- Lezli Taubler, London / UK, 11/05/2009 16:23
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Too busy editing their expenses and looking closely at what they have claimed and shouldn't have, no doubt.
- Hugh, Middx, 11/05/2009 16:15
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