• Ex-minister pays the price for ghost mortgage
• Cameron aide quits over home that did not exist
• Profile: Mr and Mrs Expenses
• Lords face suspension in sanction not used since 1642
• Opposition MPs line up to denounce wounded Speaker
• What they claimed: MPs expenses in full
• Anger over ‘cosy club’ that turns blind eye to milking of system

Reader views (112)

 Add your view

What 'victims'? These people stole taxpayers funds. We are the victims. They are the thieves. Their claims were made to the Fees office which was to process Claims, not to object to them, or to check if they were legal. The honesty of the Claim was up to the MP who is deemed to know what they can claim. Some feeble Labour Cabinet people were saying they were better than 3rd World bandit countries so it was fine. Well No, in fact they have been as bad, or worse. Pretanding they were honourable while doing the opposite.

The public wants some trials, fines and jail sentences.

- Jimmmy, birmingham

Victims ? .They are certainly not victims,the Great British Public are the victims,they are the scumbag criminals that due to the media have been caught out.

- David, london

It must be about time to take to the streets, they'd have done just that in France some days ago I would think!

- Derrick, A Once Great Land

These are not victims they are criminals. Victims are a product of the criminals.

- Adam, HELL

The UK parliamentarians expenses scandal makes the mafia or bikie gangs look like charitable institutions by comparison.

- Len, Perth Australia

Great photos, ES: 'showbiz for the ugly', indeed. They don't look like candidates for Mt Rushmore, do they?

- Mdj E10, london uk

Anyone organising a Protest March to the House of Commons?.What Taxpayers need, is a riot, followed by summary mob justice.

- Frank, Bristol UK

How interesting that they are also trying to stop people demonstrating outside parliament.

So....no democracy (no promised European referendum), thin end on the wedge for freedom of speech, fraud, corruption, utter disregard and infantilation of the electorate...mmmnnn

Where Guy Fawkes when you need him?

- Kat Kotler, Dagenham

If it was anyone else, the Police would be investigating these actions but, as we have often seen Politicians and these so called Celebreties seem to be outside the law. Shame on this Governemnt and its utterly pathetic in-justice system.

- Mike, Esher, Surrey

SILENCE IS GOLDEN.......CERTAINLY WAS FOR THIS LOT UNTIL IT ALL CAME ON TOP

- Bill, ESSEX

Quite agree with Elliot Kane about your misldeading headline. Victims? Those two? Morley and MacKay (sound like a downmarket double act) are far from victims!!! They knowingly exploited the system. We, the taxpayers, are the victims of their cupidity and greed. Words fail me. Think before you print in future.

- Jan, tottenham. london

Why do you think Brown wants an outside party to look at things, it is a delaying tactic. If there are large numbers of MP's involved and are from his cabinet it could bring down his government. Another point if a large number of MP's across the range of parties are involved then it's a sitting parliement destroyed. The liberals would make real hay and could possibly get in. Because no one with any sense would vote for either of the larger parties. Large numbers would desert them and the floating voter would give the Liberals a chance.

Both Labour and Conservative are praying this can be contained by affermative action. Cameron is winning on that one at the moment. I am a Tory supporter but I really doubt either Conservative or Labour can muster enough votes now. The liberals are in with their biggest chance ever now.

- Ebin Donk, angus scotland

I CAN REMEMBER THE SENSE OF SMUG OUTRAGE OVER THE SHANNON MATHEWS KIDNAPPING.THIS VIEW WAS NO DOUBT SHARED BY MANY OF THE POLITICIANS AT THE CENTRE OF THIS DEBACLE.HOWEVER CAN THEY NOW CLAIM THAT THEIR MORAL COMPASSES ARE ANY LESS DEFECTIVE OR THAT THEY ARE ANY LESS RAPACIOUS.
WHAT DO YOU CALL A THOUSAND CHAINED TO AROCK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA? A GOOD START.

- Billy King, dumbarton scotlandi

Someone explain to me what fraud means?..Give anyone 65 grand a year to be an MP without expenses and there would be 653 people good enough to the job..I presume not one MP will face charges..

- Jonnie Of Brixton, brixton,london,england

I hope MacKay has not charged his hair to expenses,thats a definite refund.

- Peter Stevens, London,England

taxpayersalliance.com has today registered a formal complaint with the Metropolitan Police.

Go there, if you will, to sign it.

- Roy, London, England

I am not a lawyer but as i understand it, this so called Green Book is a code of conduct and not the law of the land.
As such should it not be the case that any dishonourable members who it can be shown have obtained cash by fraudulent means should be prosecuted according to the criminal laws of the land.
It would appear that MP,s think that payback and apology will suffice and all will be forgiven in due course.
Perhaps they will come to realise that the public will not forget this as will be seen on june 4th and the general election were I fear labour will be wiped out for a long time.

- Saffron, Wigan

David,STOURBRIDGE,-its people like you that have ruined this country and allowed us to be controlled by a marxist dictatorship known as Zanulabour,-if all the people eligible to vote at the last Election had voted for another party,then it would all be a lot different now,-Just keep quiet,-we dont want to hear from anti-democracy idiots like you.

- Jacob, Canterbury Kent

Well, being an Accountant myself working for nearly 30 years in private sectors have had many visits from Inland Revenue for Directors affairs and Benefits in kind payments scrtinised properly. I am surprised that Inland Revenue have kept blank eye to Commons Benefits in kind and certainly lost a lot of tax there. Where are your Auditots, Chairman may I ask? All these tax payers money used for luxary, I never knew that such greed existed in very highly paid servants of the Nation!!.These people should not again stand for Election as their trust has been betrayed.

- Kishore, Harrow , Middlesex

Sanjay, you are completely correct. Return the Jedi.
...........
Don't hold your breath for any fraud prosecutions. A number of years back a government minister committed another interestingly creative mortgage "arrangement". Result? Absolutely nothing. Blair seems to have created a Parliament where MPs have little in the way of moral compass and they are surrounded by paid hangers-on who earn a very good living putting a spin on whatever repellent scandal next arises.
End result : a country which has lost its compass overall with a government that feels justified in placing cameras everywhere to film US - the voters - in our legitimate day-to-day lives.


If you want to retain a democracy, wake up now and start doinf something. Step one : (I know you will laugh) write to your MP to complain and then do the same to the leader of whichever party you support. Or whatever. But do something.

- Noelle Greenaway, London

Can anybody explain why Oliver Letwin can claim accomodation expenses from the Taxpayer? Apart from apparently owning properties near Westminster he has a full time occupation working for a Bank and admits that it pays more than his MP's salary. As he works all year for the Bank and is paid more shouldn't the Bank pay for his additional accomodation in Central London? Perhaps they do? It is time for more transparency from those MP's who treat Parliament as a nice little earner on the side.

- G Dukes, Hanwell England

Cameron must come clean on the outside interests of his MPs, how much they earn and the expense facilities extended to them in these capacities. Could it be that some MPs will have claimed the same expenses from multiple sources - double billing as it were. All MPs bank accounts must now be scrutinised and judged by external accountants and presented to the public. Cameron appears to want to avoid scrutiny by taking unilateral action, surely the same rules must be applied by the proper authorities across all parties. After all he has no power to date and according to him nothing to hide.

- Steve S, London

Will people in future who get charged with benefit fraud be dealt with so lightly in future. They have nothing on these guys and there defrauding the same Government.

We get taken to court and leave with a criminal record. If we did what they have been creaming off.

- Kelly Advent, uk

This is an institutionally corrupt parliament, with Brown, Cameron, and Clegg trying, by appearing to be tough on their most stupid and greedy 'honorable' members, to minimise the public backlash, avoid by-elections, and save as many of their crooked skins as possible. The taxpaying, and decent voters deserve a General Election now, to re-establish legitimacy and trust in Parliament.

- Ron Oldham, Bournemouth

Colin Boardman - it isn't tantamount to fraud. It is fraud!

- Noelle Greenaway, London

Your heading is wrong. These MPs and all others like them are not victims, they are perpetrators.

- Elliot Kane, London, England

Perhaps one of our newspapers could publish a list of those MPs (and Lords) who have not found the need to abuse the expenses/allowances system? After all, it probably will not take up much space.

- Alan, Purley, UK

At last, the political class is getting its comeuppance, I had lost hope in our democracy. The main parties are running scarred, it shows the real power of public opinion when the country is united in common cause. Perhaps their arogant disregard for us "ordinary people" will be shelved for a year or two whilst they realise who is really sovereign in the UK - the next stage will be for details of saleries paid to close family members of MPs to be published and fully investigated; e.g.what does the Home Secretary's husband actually do for his money as his wife's assistant and who else had the chance to apply for the job before he was offered it?

- Crest, St Peter Port

What the Mp's have done is tantamount to fraud. They should be prosecuted and brought to trail - they have stolen tax payers money

- Colin Boardman, Manchester

Yes! Two down, 650 to go!

- Telegraph, London

There is also the TAX and PENALTIES PLUS INTEREST that they owe on this as a benefit- this is money for our essential frontline services.

- John Graham, london UK

This is an absolute disgrace. Perhaps the name MP should be renamed to MY PROFIT!!!

- Derek James, Birmingham UK

Brilliant idea. Lets do a Srilanka.

Have a massive sit-in outside Parliament. This is now permittable and anyway, MPs are staying inside to redesign and manipulate their expense claims, so there is even less reason to break up a peaceful demo.

Just a tiny request, it would be a jolly nice gesture if the MPs would open up their nearby homes, (first or second, who cares), to the people who have paid for them.

Of course, at a push, there are always lots of nooks and crannies in those lovely old buildings. The tax payers can do outside what they do inside. Clue: it starts with s and ends with t).

- Ex London, Germany

I for one will be contacting the Crown Prosecution Service (I am sure they are on the web) to ask them whether they intend to make inquiries into whether any breach of criminal law has been committed. I would urge like-minded posters to do the same.

- Jb, London

Well, this is no longer news is it? Almost everyone at the House of Commons seems to be claiming for some sort of moat-ainance. And what about those moles at Mr Gummer's property? Were they Whithall Moles or just ordinary garden moles?

- Village Idiot, London

Obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception is still a criminal offence. At least I thought it was ? Impeach the lot of them!!

- Pablo, Tonbridge,Kent

David, STOURBRIDGE - The one thing my Dad taught from the minute I was old enough to vote was the importance of using your vote.

We live in a democracy which is why there is such anger at the abuse of the system by these corrupt MPs 'acting within the rules' created and policed (ha ha) by their own.

What they forget is that we vote them in and we have the power to vote them out. If people abstain from voting, by not acting, we merely leave the GB and his muppets in situ giving them carte blanche to carry on stealing from the tax payer.

If there wasn't a general election on the horizon, maybe Cameron wouldn't have acted so swiftly and maybe he wouldn't have come down so hard... they smell victory.

We know that there are countries in which individuals do not have the right to vote freely and some are prepared to give their lives in order to do so.

If you can't be bothered to use your vote you lose your right to comment.

- Goggs, London

Perhaps I am simplifying matters but if even one person on an NHS waiting list for a life saving operation died because there was a shortage of cash, how can those involved in these matters morally reconcile themselves with "we were following the rules"?

- Paul, London, UK

My view is that all MPs assets should be frozen until the full picture of what these scumbags have stolen is out.Not only here in the UK,but around the world.Husband and wife MPs claiming on two properties,and he only gets suspended,know that really is tough action Mr Cameron.What example are you showing the younger generation.Guess if you rich,in the right circle of friends here in the UK,you are above the law and guarenteed a job for life.The only way for justice is for the people to rise up and over-throw our communist bunch of MPs.With all the public anger,the leaders still dont get it.

- David, london

it's NOT one down - Morley and Mackay are both still sitting as MPs which is spitting on democracy. Until they are out, I will not believe the party leaders' protestations of reform and their grovelling apologies.

- Joe Blogs, Lewes, Sussex, UK

Only saying 'sorry' or 'error of judgement' because you all got caught with your fingers in the till.
Downright blatant theft of taxpayers money and if it had been the ordinary man in the street we'd have been sacked and charged.......

- Bob, UK

Should someone not start taking a look at the activities of the Fees Office and its staff? Some of its reported decisions appear to have been incomprehensibly sympathetic to the most fanciful expenses claims.

- Robert Digby, London, England

David (STOURBRIDGE) has no right to complain if he has never bothered to vote. This is a democracy, if you don't like your MP then vote for someone else, or stand yourself. The problem is the apathy that David represents: and the fact that too many people vote for an MP on the basis of Party without looking at the individual and how they behave.

- Alan, London

MARLEYS GHOST BE UPON YOU DIS HONORABLE MEMBERS


Reading reading reading

There is no excuse. No excuse should be listened to

They, so they say didnt realise, didnt know....were not aware of

If they did not know , not realise. were not aware of What lowness of inteligence for parliament to 'realise, know, be aware of in other aspects of their work What do they not realise, not know, not aware of, is good for this country.

Is the dificulty of the feeding of their greed, at the expense of the tax payers so great?

They soon signed the cheques...There must have been so many paniced cheque signings yesterday it must have been seen like a school paper chase.

The Speaker as greedy or greedier..Did that loathesome toad sign any cheque? I doubt it..He will hang on by his sporran rather than part with one halfpence. His greed is a sickness

Again I bring you to Blairs wife's expenses of a daily hair dresser Did the Blairs expenses stop there? No way...SO Pay it all back Blairs,

If you honourabel members do not know the difference between right and wrong..You are not fit for the job.....So GO ALL of you.

To the people I say, do not be foolish and vote or support any one of them..You the people are worthier, You the burglar and mugger are not as greedy...You are merely desperate
Where as these so called honourable people KNEW exactly what they were doing...and that was stealing from YOU.

- Midge, London

Morley, sloppy accounting, no, outright obtaining money by deception.

Mackay, Mr & Mrs, sorry, also outright obtaining money by deception and and conspiracy to obtain money by deception. They had to agree which to claim on which house.

As benefit fraudsters are prosecuted, there MUST be prosecutions.

Dear leader flipping main residences to get new kitchens to install new kitchens in each. What is clear is that he is from Scotland and his main home was always going to be back in Scotland.

Repayment is not enough, there must be prosecutions.

- Hugh, Middx

Ahem, how transparent is a non-existent mortgage?

- Steven Dale, London, England

- David, STOURBRIDGE - For a 60 year old man, you just spouted absolute nonsense. By not voting you are opening the flood gates for the likes of Brown to get back in or the BNP to gain ground because Brown is such a poor leader and has given them so many grounds to attack.

Brown absolutely must be removed immediately and it is only by the power of voting that this is possible.

- Malcolm Jones, lon

Those that have read my opinions will know that unless those that have committed these frauds on the tax payers are prosecuted, then no justice will have been done at all; and no criminals in Parliament punished for their deceit and deceptions on the British People etc.

I only reply now to add this little addition etc; we should always defend the press and the medias rights to the full freedom to investigate and publish the truth where ever, and when ever they find it; we should always defend whistle blowers as well; without these people being immune from State prosecution; the State will carry on deceiving and hiding the truth from all the people of the British Nation etc.

We can thank the press alone; for busting this latest corruption in the Houses of Parliament itself, into the public domain; without the press having the courage to take on the State itself; nobody would be any the wiser today about what goes on in the halls of power etc.

You have all witnessed premeditated corruption and greed on a national scale, something few would believe even in a fairy story; to be forewarned is to be forearmed; and if you want true freedom; never forget for one moment the price of freedom is eternal vigilance of those that seek to control you all; do not stay silent, if you do, they will slowly but surely deprive you all of the freedom we have fought world wars to maintain, and centuries of people fighting for the right to be free of the crown and dictators controls etc.;

- Mickyinlondon, london

The time is now ripe to investigate the house of lords & the Euro M.P.s.Now that the media have got the bit between their teeth, lets go for gold.

- Ronald Whitten, chesterfield derbyshire

To Chris , London.

Surely claiming expenses for a second home that doesn't exist is fraud !

- Peter, LOndon

What is forgotten with all of these excuses saying that 'the Fees Office said OK so I thought it was fine' is that the public expects MPs and especially government ministers to be more than boxticking gophers. We expect these officials to use reason and judgement in their work and I hear none of that in their admissions. Therefore, they are not up to the job.

- Doug Watt, london e14

I live in modest farmhouse with a moat, perhaps Hogg would help me get Government funding for clearing this out, last time I paid for it myself!!!! I clearly have got it all wrong. The name Hogg seems perfect when we are talking about snouts in the trough. Hogg's reaction to the reporters was typical of the Conservative 'Grandees'. Please David Cameron get rid of all these people and fast,Hogg's attitude did the party no good at all, what a pompous fool

- Peter Deverell, edlesborough dunstable

Where is Val when you need her. Sunning herself on the beach I expect.

- Jb, London

This has been a great success in terms of embarrassing the people who run this country. However, civilians do not get off the hook in these situations by apologising. These MP's are supposed to be working for us, the people. We are your managing directors and this is not good enough! They have to be punished as severely as any normal working person would for fraud. We're not the real managing directors of all this though are we?

Freemasons - 1 Everyone Else - 0

(Again).

- L, East Midlands

WELL WHAT CAN WE SAY. THIS MAN IS OUR MP IN BRACKNELL AND HAS NO RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE OFF THIS TOWN. IT'S GOOD TO NO WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE WE NEVER SEE HIM IN BRACKNELL. WE KNOW WHY NOW HE IS BUSY SPENDING ARE TAXES THAT HE GOT FROM CONNING THE SYSTEM.

- Colin, BRACKNELL

I want to know WHY all of these people have not been arrested and charged with fraud ? They stole money by fraud , they are thieves . Would I get the chance to say sorry and pay money back if caught stealing it ? NO ! So how are they better than me that they can just say sorry and carry on as normal ?
Answer me please .

- Bryan Odell, Knokke , Belgium

EXTRAORDINARY. THREATENING ADVERTS ON TELEVISION ABOUT BENEFIT CHEATS, THAT IS SICK PEOPLE GETTING £85 A WEEK. OTHERS DEPICTING VIOLENT SCENES OF CARS BEING CRUSHED. BULLYING VOICE OVERS ABOUT NOT HAVING A TELEVISION LICENSE. DRACONIAN LAWS ABOUT NOT PAYING A PARKING TICKET ON TIME, EVEN THE INLAND REVENUE GIVES US GRIM WARNINGS ABOUT SENDING IN OUR RETURNS ON TIME EVEN IF YOUR BLOODY ILL, BUT BROWN DOES NOTHING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS FOR A MORTGAGE IT APPEARS HE NO LONGER HAS AND OTHERS CLAIM EXPENSES RUNNING INTO OVER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS AND IT APPEARS ITS ALL IN THE RULES. EVEN IT APPEARS CLAIMING FOR YOUR WIFES TAXI.

AT LEAST CAMERON IS ACTING, WHICH IS IT APPEARS MORE THAN THE POLICE ARE.

- Alan Green, Woodford Green

I might consider them scalps if they were sacked as M.P.s and then PROPERLY investigated by the Police with the view of prosecution.
I will not be holding my breath.

- Roger, Surrey

Concerned Citizen: How does anyone 'forget' they've paid their mortgage off? How can you possibly claim for mortgage repayments when you haven't got a mortgage, and then when you get caught red handed say "it was an error". Eventually paying off a mortgage is akin to a birthday, you never forget. The majority of our MPs are just thieving scumbags, with a few honest ones somewhere amongst this almight mess.

- Sue, Orpington, Kent

I'm allowed 7 days sick leave a year, but morally I wouldn't take it if I wasn't ill. But this lot are a bunch of low-life scumbags. The next general election will be extremely interesting, especially if many others, like me, vote for a minority party and none of the big three. Well, I'm just off to rob a bank now. I'm not worried about getting caught, I'll just tell the police I'll put it back and nothing more need be said or done!

- Sue, Orpington, Kent

What about Mr and Mrs Balls ???
Have they been claiming just the one allowance?
Hopefully you are not injuncted from telling us.

- A Booth, Hertfordshire

Fleet Street and the BBC knew all about these cheats for years but shared the culture themselves, and didn't want to rock the boat. Just now it's profitable and popular to expose the thieves in office, but when are they going to go for the LG councillors and officials ? Don't hold your breath. Private Eye has been publishing this stuff for years. The only paper worth reading.

- Davidke, ramsey isle of man

Can anyone explain to me why when as one senior MP mentions there is only sufficient work for roughly half the current number of MP's, that is for roughly 300 out of the over 600 in Parliament, they need to have not one but several full time helpers? What work do the MP's do? Just complete expense claims?

- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK

They all sound very Scotish to me no doubt all in the same club as GB and the rest of his rats

- Mike, London England

I can't help wondering exactly what kind of "advice" the fraudster clown was giving Cameron (no relation, thank God)!

- A. Cameron, Liege, Belgium

Oh God - this just gets worse and worse.

MPs claiming hundreds of thousands of pounds for houses and mortgages that do not exist.

If a working-class single mother fiddled the benefits system for a tenth of that amount she would be put in jail.

This is a very sad time for democracy in Britain.

- Danny, London

Almost 2 MILLION IN TAXPAYERS MONEY! That's quite a pay-rise. As if tax revenue was there expressly for MPs to dip into and use at will.

- A.Taxpayer, London

So when can we expect a similar investigation into the House of Lords and their expenses claims? These Noble Peers have been remarkably quiet over the last week or so .. maybe they're collectively holding their breath?

- K Philips, London UK

Mckay should not only resign as an aide, but as an MP.Better still, Cameron should sack him as a member of the party, and given that this appears to be fraudulent behaviour, the police should be investigating!Ditto for Morley Mr Brown!UTTERLY DISGRACEFUL BEHAVIOUR!!

- Meldroo, Oldham, England

Surely this is plain and simple fraud and should be prosecuted, as should other fraudulent activities by all MPs

- Peter, LOndon

I should be given a medal !
I am sixty years of age and have never voted, meaning I have never put one of those slimeballs called MP's into office. Anyone who votes in future for any of the 645 or so scumbags that frequent the Houses of Fraud should be ashamed.
I and millions of others who never vote are true heroes.
Now I await the nutters who will respond to say that everyone should vote - this country is beyond repair.

- David, STOURBRIDGE

“Looking back now, it does look strange". this is fascinating indeed. the sense of entitlement, and of being beyond the restraint of what the rules actually said, has made people like mackay suspend rational judgement entirely. what a shock it must be to them.

billg of slough is right to ask who has colluded in this and why they did. if in court, mackay would presumably call them to give evidence on his behalf.

- Stephen, london, uk

Over the years, Cameron (and many other Tories) have preached "Zero Tolerance"

Why have they not applied the philosophy to any of the recently revealed miscreants?

- John, Dorset, UK

It wouldn't surprise me that once convicted of fraud they'll be able to class their prison cell a second home and claim expenses for sim cards, ciggies, class A drugs and whatever else is used as currency in these institutions.

- Jack, London

Crooked politicians saying sorry after being caught with their snouts in the trough and then hoping that the public will somehow forget about their criminal activities are in for a nasty shock,-if a crime has been committed,then they will appear in court and be fined or imprisoned,-just paying the money back is not going to satisfy the public's outrage thats has now been unleashed.All these crooks should be thrown on the dole immediately pending an investigation.

- Jacob, Canterbury Kent

Disgusting as the behaviour is, at least some conservatives have started to do the decent thing. Shame though as I don't see labour trying very hard to give back THEIR immoral expenses. WHY do any MPs whatever party they belong to have such allowances? Surely travel and temporary accommodation should be the very maximum allowed? There's no use appealing to their "moral" side as they dont have one.

- Francesca, London, London, UK

If they have not broken the rules, then it is not fraud.

Most of this is a moral issue, not a legal one. The rules were far too weak, and a considerable number of dishonorable members "played the system" to maximise their personal wealth. Now it's payback time. They may be asked to return the money, they may find their future career limited, some may be de-selected as MPs, many may lose their seats at the next election. All this and more thoroughly deserved.

But fraud it isn't, unless they have obtained money by explicitly lying, in which case it is time to call in the police and (if proved) to jail them.

- Nigel, London

Ben Farrell - I would love to see Smith and Blears sacked and made repay every penny they have fraudulently claimed. They should be brought before the courts and severely punished for their crimes.

- R.F., Yorks, UK

To all those citing fraud and criminality, I am afraid you are wrong. Fraud require deception and in all these cases the relevant MPs were transparent with the Fees Office, the body responsible for policing the expenses rules, and their arrangements were approved by that Office. We may not like the system, and no-one denies it needs reform, but let's not retrospectively acccuse people of things that they did not do.

- Chris, London

It is as well to pause before rushing to label somebody as fraudulent. In particular it is as well to bear in mind that hindsight is a many splendid thing. In order to be fraudulent an accused person has to be found to be dishonest. Dishonesty involves a two fold test in the law. First the accused person has to be found to have been dishonest according to the standards of ordinary people, and second they have to be found to have themselves known that they were dishonest at the relevant time. The test of dishonesty is therefore simultaneously both objective and subjective. It follows that just because ordinary people would regard (especially with the benefit of hindsight) somebody as dishonest, if in fact they genuinely believed they were entitled to do what they did, then they are not dishonest in law, and they do not become dishonest in law because it is "obvious" or they "must have known", both of which concepts conflate the two tests. I hold no script for so called crooked politicians, but even they are entitled to be judged according to law, not accordiing to the standards of a baying mob.

- Concerned Citizen, Nottingham

What's really worrying, is how long that have been getting away with it. Made nice little nest eggs for themselves. Oink, Oink
One thing is for sure, NuLabour is finished, and they will never be trusted again.
At least Cameron has put the brakes on the Tories, but again he still has lot to do to gain the public trust.

At the moment all these thieves(There's no other word for them)should be locked up,and made to pay.

- Malc, London,England

This isn't good enough. We need a general election. We need every existing MP who stands to declare what they have claimed of our money and what it has been spent on. Let the peoople decide. The rules have clearly been written in such a way to make it easy for MPs to fleece lord knows how much over the years. Another example of how our hard earned cash is squandered away whilst I still can't afford my own first home. We cannot wait any longer. If this lot haven't got the guts to announce a General Election then the Queen needs to step in and force it.

- Lou, London

When will the Press start examining the EU Parliament for their excesses?

- Stephen Rothbart, Prague Czech Republic

It's amazing that not a single Labour Minister has resigned even though they have defrauded us on a far grander scale than MacKay.

Here are two who should go right now: Hazel Blears, the Queen of Flipping, and Jack Straw who is a Fellow of the Institute of Statistics but claims that, 'accounting is not my strong point.' And what about McNulty - £60k for claimed for his mum's house?

At least Cameron is getting a grip of his party's excesses. Labour are totally out of control and robbing us blind.

- Ian, London

All the ministers who have claimed expenses are called fraudsters. Tbey must not only repay the monies but should pay a penalty and interest for using the public monies.

It is a criminal offence so should be jailed. If we the public had done something wrong then we face a prison sentece so should they.

S Shah

- S Shah, Wembley

Up to a few months ago MPs could get 249 pounds a day from petty cash,without signing for it .How much money did these scumbags take with this system in place.An extra 30 000 p.a. I bet.And I do understand why they saw making their expense claims public a national security risk.How many people would love to give them a good beating.To the MP that is going to hold a public meeting to see if the people that voted him in want him to resign,I do suggest he takes the police with him for protection.

- Dave, london

Michael Ancram is querying David 'whiter than white' Cameron's mortgage costs & he's another Tory! C'mon Dave, put your own house in order first! (Oh, that's what you have been doing - right!)

- Robert Turner, Corsham UK

'Mistakes', 'misunderstandings', 'failing to meet a reasonable test' - lets call these what they are. Fraud. Forget the apologies and offers of payback. Call in the SFO to take over the investigation and prosecute to the same level ordinary citizens would be held to.
With the review taking in 4 years of expenses is 'our' mayor sitting comfortable today I wonder?

- Martin, Kew

NOT GOOD ENOUGH,..THEY STILL DO NOT GET IT DO THEY?
SAYING "SORRY" IS CHILDISH & NOT GOOD ENOUGH

ALL OF THE FRAUDSTERS TO BE BOOTED OUT PRONTO !!!!

WHY HAS NOT NEW SCOTLAND YARD FRAUD SQUAD BEEN BROUGHT IN??
AND THESE SCUM TREATED LIKE BENEFIT CLAIMANTS GET HOUNDED AND UP BEFORE A JUDGE

- A Brown, UK

The Fees Office seems to be the root of all evil here. This MP may have failed to get it right but he did ask the fees office what he should claim and they told him to claim. It is becoming very clear that the fees office has pushed money on these MP's.
Has this office been run by the Speaker to encourage MP's to maximise their allowances ?

- Billg, Slough

Glad to see Cameron being seen to do "something" but what exactly has Mr Mackay resigned from? His position as Dave's aide? His seat in the Commons? His membership of the party? I suspect it is the first of these and therefore not exactly the biggest act of falling on a sword ever seen in politics.

But still, it's better than the inaction from the other side of the House, where Gormless Clown and his even more gormless colleagues keep chanting the mantra of "it's in the rules", hoping that one day we might wake up and believe them.

- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland

Just like a shoplifter 'can I pay now I've been caught?

- Mike Fitzmaurice, wakefield uk

McKay has not resigned from anything for which he was being paid, he is still an MP and still on th public payroll. He and his wife have defrauded the taxpayer and should be prosecuted for doing so.
Hazel Bliars is guilty of tax evasion by sumbitting what was clearly a fraudulent tax return. This is a criminal offence and one which is not mitigated by repaying the cash once discovered. She must be prosecuted for fraud. I have recently made a formal complaint to HMRC in this regard and suggest that everyone else does the same, they can't ignore all of us!
Elliot Morley has claimed for a non-existent mortgage. Ignorance is not an excuse in law, so he IS guilty of fraud by false representation. He must also be prosecuted.
If the so called "authorities" cannot protect us from this level of criminality, we must be given a general election immediately so that we, the people, can at least remove these thieving rats from the public payroll.
There will be no viable solution, or recognisable justice for the taxpayer, whilst the governing party that has presdided over the descent into this moral abyss are still in power.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster

... another step towards a Jedi Council to run the country

- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK

His claims may, with hindsight in this climate (and as Jacqui Smith would say "in the court of public opinion") look unreasonable but the key question should be: were they in accordance with the rules applying at the time. If they were, then it is the system not the individual that is at fault. You cannot blame someone for claiming what they were entitled to claim. I suggest we get the people responsible for the Parliamentary Fees office onto the BBC and quiz them, rather than the MPs who, in good faith, sought reimbursement of expenses they were told they were entitled to. This whole episode has a nasty witch-hunt flavour to it that should not be allowed to continue.

- Chris, London

MPs represent us,we demand they have integrity and be honest.Both Gordon and Dave still do not get it,we are not asking nicely for then to remove all MPs that abused the system,we the voters are telling them.Listen to us why you still have a chance,ignore us and both of you will be down the Dol at the next election.We do not want corrupt officials in the British Parliment,and this is not open to discussion.

- David, london

How can these MPs call themselves “Honourable Gentlemen (&Ladies)” when they use very lax rules to line their pockets. The only crime seems to be getting caught.

- Richard, Thame

Politicians as a body of professional thinkers and doers, appear to of been suckered by the EU into committing hara-kiri. Giving UK Parliament to Brussels as a present, when Regional Assemblies are set up and running as local government.

Not to worry, am sure that your Gold Plated Pensions are safe in Euro Land. Plus Tony Blair did change the sentence of Treason from Death Penalty to Life in prison.

- William, Haywards Heath UK

Surely embezzlement is embezzlement however you dress it up, that means that all these oversights and mistakes should now be investigated by the police.

Being caught committing fraud, claiming money by deception, it is not enough to say sorry when you get caught. Or can we all now use that excuse.

While the taxpayer can understand the idea of providing accommodation for their MP’ while attending Parliament, paying them to have a home in the constituency of the people they represent is tantamount to taking the p…………

However, all these problems stem from a system that has a ruling political class. A political class that believe they are an elite category of individuals, making the laws up as they go along to suit their own purposes.

Democracy is where you have government by the people for the people. A political class behaving like feudal Barons are not ‘the people’ as such can never be said to represent the people – so on that basis they do not represent any form of democracy.

If you vote in an election for any of the political class – you vote against democracy.

- Ian, Reading, England

Anybody organising a march on parliament - if so let me know. Perhaps we could join the Sir Lanans on Westminster Abbey.

- Taxpayer, London (Wot a dump)

I am in a state of shock, it goes on and on, wow welcome to rip off Britain. We need to reduce the amount of MP's(and their staff and advisers)at the next by-election.

- Innocent Victim, London

To little to late, but still a good start Mr. Cameron. I would suggest that you look at re-naming M.P's not as Members of Parliament but as Members of Public. Perhaps this change will serve as an enduring reminder that they are our servants and our not self serving masters.

- Rob, London

There is no question that many of these expenses constitute outright fraud. Just think how a benefits fraudster would be treated if found guilty of claiming benefits they were not entitled to! What hypocrisy!

This was - is - a total and complete abuse of power and, if the Telegraph hadn't made it so public, few of us could even have guessed at the sheer magnitude of it all.

We are far too trusting of those we put in charge of our taxes.

- Outraged Citizen, Nottingham, UK

Yeah. I'd like to see Smith quit too! After all, why should I have to pay for her bath plug!?

- Chris, Brighton, England

GOOD and may this be the first of many. Like Ben, I'd like to see Smith and Blears quit too.

- Goggs, London

I am glad one rotten apple has gone - Cameron must have the resolve to sack as many as it takes, it's not the perfect answer but it's some sort of justice for the taxpayer. "it was within the rules" is a Nuremberg defence.....
Chuck Douglas Hogg out now, Cameron, he's contributing nothing to the Tories and he's electoral poison as long as he is in the party.

- Johnny, Beijing, China

By quiting I guess that excludes this thief from facing criminal charges? If so why?

- Mike, London England

Banks took greed as far as the rules permitted using us as pawns to speculate on property backed assets and nearly bankrupted us. MPs took greed as far as they could using our money to speculate on property. What is the moral difference? Is it reasonable to expect the latter group to sort the former group out?
Remember, we the voters and taxpayers are the mugs if we presume it will all sort itself out and be alright again. If the people who have done this to us are not urgently removed from control and held properly accountable (surely fraud/deceiving the taxpayer means jail sentences for some bankers and some MPs?) then we may be completely bankrupted in every sense in years to come.

- Jim, london

This has become evidence of a Gold Rush for a" Club" above the Law, like another Royal Family.

- A.Taxpayer, London

One down, many to go.

- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK

We really are seeing clearly what a bunch of scheming thieving scumbags our MP's are. Paying back monies stolen from the taxpayer should not exclude them from prosecution in the future and I doubt whether the public at large would shed any tears for those offenders who may be prosecuted.
It would add to the gaiety of the national also if the Speaker (Gorbals Mick) could be booted up the arse for the whole length of the M1 to where he belongs - The Gorbals.

- Alan, Essex

I know it's all point-scoring, but the Tories have really grasped the situation and mood of the country. Watching the news last night, there was a string of NuLabour MPs still banging on about "it was in the rules, it was in the rules". I'd like to see Smith and Blears quit.

- Ben Farrell, London

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