Senior Tory apologies after claiming MPs' lot is 's**t'
Paul Waugh and Emma Rowley12.08.09
Senior Tory Alan Duncan was forced to make a humiliating apology today for claiming that MPs have been forced to live on “rations” by the clampdown on expenses.
Mr Duncan issued a statement regretting his comments when the Standard revealed he had been secretly filmed complaining about the financial impact of the restrictions on MPs who still earn a basic £64,000 a year.
The shadow leader of the Commons was taped by environmentalists saying that no talented person would now want to enter Parliament. He said MPs had been “treated like s**t” in recent months. It is understood that furious senior party figures ordered Mr Duncan to issue his apology within minutes of the first edition of the Standard hitting the streets.
Lord Mandelson seized the comments as proof that the Tories were privately opposed to reforms of the expenses system.
Click here to see the full video
Mr Duncan originally claimed earlier today that his remarks had been meant as a joke, but he quickly apologised after Tory HQ hit the roof. He said: “The last thing people want to hear is an MP whingeing about his pay and conditions. It is a huge honour to be an MP and my remarks, although meant in jest, were completely uncalled for. I apologise for them unreservedly.”
Mr Duncan was filmed by green group Don't Panic last month as he showed its members around the Commons. Activist Heydon Prowse had been invited to Parliament as a goodwill gesture by Mr Duncan after the campaigners staged a stunt at the MP's home, digging a pound sign in his lawn in protest at his expenses claims.

Asked why, he replied: “Basically, it's being nationalised, you have to live on rations and are treated like s**t.
“I spend my money on my garden and claim a tiny fraction based on what is proper. And I could claim the whole bloody lot, but I don't.”
Asked how much he spent on the garden, he said: “About £2,000 a year and this was £1,000 a year on expenses, you know.”
Lord Mandelson was swift to exploit Tory discomfort, claiming that Mr Duncan in his Commons role had opposed government moves to clean up the expenses system. Lord Mandelson told BBC News: “MPs living on rations? Alan Duncan is very fond of speaking a good game publicly but in private talking and acting quite differently.” Mr Duncan has already said he would pay back more than £4,000 of expenses, after details of his gardening costs were revealed, including hundreds to overhaul a ride-on lawnmower.
The film also shows an encounter with another Tory MP, Nigel Evans, in the Strangers' Bar. Commenting on some sandwiches, the MP says: “I made these myself. It's my second job!” Referring to the annual MPs' salary, he adds: “Got to have a second income mate, couldn't survive on 64.”
Teased that he is “trading down” in an apparent reference to his choice of drinks, Mr Evans also jokes: “This is what it's come to now. Actually I'm paying, that's what it's come to.”
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Reader views (92)
It should be remembered that Mr Duncan was one of those who profiteered from the gerrymandering and anti working class actions of the Shirley Porter regime in Westminster Council. Poor (and therfore deemed undesirable) people were driven out in order that people like him could buy property on the cheap!
- Jon O, Leytonstone UK
MPs associate with super rich business people,it makes them forget that they are supposed to represent us,the struggling masses.They compare their financial situation to really rich people.Is Duncan cracking up?Remember his outburst on Have i got news?
- Jimfred, London Uk
You were elected to serve the people,not you and your expense account,for gods sake wake up all of you,the country is being lost,no wonder all of the Brits i speak to here want to leave The British Isles,my brother included.
- Keith, South Carolina,USA
You were elected to serve the people,not you and your expense account,for gods sake wake up all of you,the country is being lost,no wonder all of the Brits i speak to here want to leave The British Isles,my brother included.
- Keith, South Carolina,USA
The reason that Alan Duncan is treated like s**t is because that is all he deserves being an elected member of a dysfunctional organisation known as the British parliament. Democracy? More like a schmuckocracy.
- Len, Perth Australia
Gosh - what a lot of garbage can be written by so few Britons.
It is difficult not to sense jealousy in many of the comments and other comments are just downright silly or rather vulgar. Some of the comments are not truthful, with ridiculous claims pretending to be facts or truth.
Alan Duncan makes a silly comment. Population writes drivel in response. I know what I'd rather suffer.
- Lester May, London
Many a true word said in jest! Fact is though if Labour are the problem, the Conservatives are not the answer. A coalition (unlikely to happen) or proportional representation offer the only real alternative to the bi-polar Punch and Judy Show played out over the last several decades by the 'so called' main parties.
- Chris Keady, London UK
M.P.s rub shoulders with business people who earn 'telephone numbers'.Is it any wonder that they conveniently forget that they are supposed to be representing the struggling massess?
- Jimfred, London Uk
Dear Mr Cameron,
I have been a conservative supporter for the whole of my adult life - I am 64, but unless you get rid of this arrogant man witout delay, I feel I will have to transfer my allegiance to another party - say non-of-these, or maybe even UKIP.
Come on Mr Cameron, lets see whether you really mean it when you state it's time to change the state of politics.
- Anthony Heath, Godalming, Surrey
Alan Duncan wants to live in the real world he should try and live on £9,300 a year for family of 4 pay all his bills and the council tax. Then he can moan about finding it hard. He should be ashamed of himself he should be given his marching orders.
- John, Carlisle
It would seem that the only quality a politician needs to join Cameron's cabinet clique is a load of money and an ability to chair Have I Got News For You. In Osborne's austerity Britain we will have a bunch of second-rate comedians running the country.
- F Frinton, Ealing England
We all know,dont we,that he wont read all these comments,whats the point really.Just to let off steam i suppose.Oh how to do something that MAKES them take note.Any ideas?????
- Pete, France
Alan Duncan insults the people who voted for him at the last election.With 64k average salery many of his constituents would love to have his so called meagre salery.He is a disgrace and the Conservatives need to wake up and get rid of him.Last month during the Norwich North by election the only candidate who offered to donate a percentage of his MP's salery to a local charity was the UKIP candidate,refreshing don't you think? If you go in to politics it is to serve the people not yourself and it seems Mr Duncan falls way short of any moral standards and once again a member of the shadow cabinet gives us a preview of poor standards in public life.
- Margot Parker, Weldon UK
He should try living on a pension of £55 per week like I have to and no handouts available, if it wasn't for my husband propping me up with his state pension and private pension god knows what I'd do. We've worked all our lives and we don't moan. He should think himself lucky he's got a saft job in parliament where he can fleece the country to his delight like many have in the recent past. Thatcher created this greed cult, it appears its still with us, they are all greedy, selfish and need to be thrown out, lets have a new party in power that's not tainted like the three main parties, a COMPLETE CHANGE IS NEEDED, VOTE FOR THAT IN 2010.
- Barbara Stevens, West Midlands
And rations presumably equals the daily sum MPs can claim without having to provide a receipt (I can't remember the exact amount but I think it was about £20 a day)
- Andy, london
The problem is currently withy the media. Whenever a Tory politician is interviewed he is treated like a favorite son and allowed to get away with murder. It seems they will stroll into power without ever answering or even being asked a difficult question. Alan Duncan is a prime exampole of a Tory who gives glib answers to easy questions.
- F Blunt, Ealing England
They still dont get it do they? What really got me was when I found out that they get a 64k pay off even when they've quit.........the rest of us get 1 week for each year worked if lucky. GGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
- Suzie, Borough London
Well, I think you are a load of s**t Mr Duncan. You should know better. How in Gods name can you expected Joe Public to abide by society's written & unwritten laws with this sort of behaviour??
- Lescm19, Essex
Do you know that the Government is considering reducing the age of voting to 16? Why becuase the turnout for voting is too low. Why it is low? Because as many of you have pointed out the current MPs are not worth voting for so to up the votes they are thinking of lowering the age for voting. The average knowledge of politics at age 16 is virtually zero. However, the MPs would persuade them to vote, and they probably would because they been given the right and it will be a new experience. However, this will keep this rotton bunch of MPs in their jobs.
Personally, I think that MPs should be dedicated to position for which they have submitted their names, supposedly for the honour of serving their country. They should not be allowed to have another job interests providing additional remuneration. If they do have other remuerative occupations then their work for the goverment should be as a volunteer and they should receive reasonable expenses only, verified by receipts. Think of all the ordinary people who do volunteer work in addition to their daily grind, working of the good of their fellow men.for free. Abstaining from voting will enncourage the Government to try to lower the voting age. You must try to find an honourable man to vote for delve deeply into his/her background, additional employment,views to to see if he is truly honourable and worthy of your precious vote.
Paddy Andrews, Mexican resident, UK tax payer, no voting rights, and frozen Government pension.
- Paddy Andrews, Ajijic Mexico
Surely with his 80k he is also payed for his outside interests Duncan can get by. Cameron has said that his Shadow Cabinet will give up the extra jobs after the Election, when the Ministerial pay will make up the shortfall. Cameron doesn't mention that bit but makes it sound as though sacrifices are being made for the sake of propriety.
- W Pickle, Acton England
I see this odious twerp was born in 1957, so he will have no idea what it was like living with a ration book which you have pictured, nor would be have experience Armed Forces rations in some of the grimmer overseas postings in the fifties and sixties, although not the forces fault.
We really must do a 'Totnes' on these people and put in 'real world' people to represent us as they know life as it is for ordinary people, especially in these straitened times.
- Dave Morris, Sunderland UK
Neither side emerges well from that. Dishonorable MPs, disgraceful deceivers. We do have now to eject people with personality defects (however sympathetic). Lots of nice folk round here, straight and kinky, who'd do a genuinely fair day's work in 'Parliament' (AKA, today, 'DisgraceVille'). Now can we have the 'Open Primaries' which allow us Plebs to identify them?
- Steve, London, England
with this expenses fiddler ensconced in Cameron's shadow cabinet it will ensure that he alongside the other shadow cabinet crooks will serve only one term if they are lucky enough to win a majority in the first place.
Dave may be about to find out that Surprisingly few of us plebean voters are in fact idiots!
- Steve, Brentford
Too late to apolgise. we now know what you really think and the public are not very happy
I hope your thoughts are not forgotten by your voters and you are out. you ver little man
- Terence Mccarthy, South Africa
Someone on £64,000 + expenses is living on rations?
Another demonstration of just how out of touch with normal folk these pen-pushing lobby fodderers are.
We could get rid of 80% of them, and be just as well governed.
- Frank O'Fyle, Le Havre
Good to see Lord Mandleson getting involved on behalf of the Labour Party. Would this be the same Peter Mandleson who was forced to quit the cabinet twice for falsifying mortgage application forms and lying about personal loans? Good to see he is taking the moral high ground!!! By the way, who elected you Peter?
- Tom, london
Maybe as a former trader, he should just toddle off somewhere sunny to live off the money he has salted away and that of his relatives. It reduces the burden on the UK economy, a job is opened up for someone who wants to do it and the moment they step though the door the knock on effect is that the unemployment figures go down by 1.
I would not like to guess that being an MP is easy, it is not something I would think to do, but if someone takes up public office you expect a little bit of tact and humility. Hells Teeth, what next, complaining about having a secondhand rolex to people queuing at a soup kitchen mid photo op?!
- Ian B, London
MPs on rations? Can they beat Little Old Lady rations?
Daily:
6 RyVita topped with tomato & onion, both finely sliced. No butter.
2 ice-cream cones (6 for £1)
1 cup coffee.
- Molly F., Cardiff, UK
Duncan is becoming an embarrassment and a worn out joke; Cameron must show him the door, pronto.
- Ted, London
So why does he continue? Bet he doesn't resign.
- Stephen C, London
If we accept that MPs are allowed a family life, and if we accept that those representing constituencies outside of the commuter belt need family accomodation in London, then we also have to accept that it is likely that the fallout from the expenses debacle will be that many good potential candidates are unable to consider a parliamentary career. Perversly, it's not the Alan Duncan's of this world who will be barred.
Of course £64K is a good salary in absolute terms, but hardly over-generous given the responsibility and extreme demands made on our MPs. It's too easy to focus on the real abuses - Duck Island and Porn Films - and to forget why the second home allowance was there in the first place. It was to make sure that we could be represented by a more diverse group of people than the silver-spoon brigade of Cameron, Osbourne and Duncan.
- Mike Hunt, Worcester, England
Dos he know what a ration is.I dont think so.I have lived on rations and I till you at £64K I could get one hell of a lot of rations.He needs to come and try the normal person in the street that lives on a ration a week,and then see if he can say an MP can live on a ration.
If I was on £64K I would be on the best restrint dinners every night,and still be in a nice house not a shoue box.The more you get the more you want.Like an MP.
- Alan,St Helens,North West, St Helens,Mersesyside.
I agree with "Steve of England" We have to display our disgust at the next election. I just hope I have an independent candidate to vote for. Failing that I shall spoil my ballot paper and give my reasons. MPs are expecting us all to have forgotten about their greed, and are quietly increasing their expenses as we speak (eg. petty cash into their bank accounts and now tax payers paying for their child care.) John Bercow is worse than the previous speaker.
- F.Utterson, manchester
Surprised that Lord Cameron or his gang have not quickly come out to say anything. If this was a Labour MP,I am sure that Cameron or one of his high profile team would have been quick to respond. Politicians are all the same. They are quick to grovel, when they want our votes and when they get into power, they show us nothing but contempt.
- Kunle Sotunde, London
Duncan is a waste of space as he showed all too clearly on "Have I got news for you" a while ago
- Scott, london, uk
It is fortunate that Mr Duncan bought his house and the house next door under Dame Shirley Porter's Cheap Homes for Tories plan when she was head of Westminster Council and Gerrymandering the elections at the Taxpayers expense. If the Tory millionaire had not had this benefit he might really be struggling now and not be a member of Cameron's Rich Boys Club.
- W Pickle, Acton England
This bloke using a secret camera to film the meeting is a snake. A totally low down snake. Why don't he go out and campaign for privacy.
What an immoral uptight fake he is.
- Rikrok, London
His remarks are contemptible - as are most MPs. If he feels he is being treated like s**t it is because he is s**t. Westminster is currently a cesspit full of the most odious individuals who will be kicked into the long grass at the next election when all second homes - which have been paid for by tax payers - must be sold and the proceeds returned to the treasury.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
Having had the pleasure of eating a few times in the Palace of Westminster, I wish I lived on rations like that.
As for getting more money elsewhere, let's not kid ourselves- if they could they would. There is a whole raft of MPs who have never had a proper job who, on departing from Parliament, secure gainful emplyment simply because of where they have been 'resting' for the last few year. Potential employers believe, without much doundation it must be said, that the ex-MP's contact will be useful; in my experience they seldom are.
- Peter, Surrey
his remarks serve only to illustrate his true motives for entering politics. rather than serving his constituents, he merely wanted to serve himself large helpings of the taxpayers money.
the taxpayer is better served when such self serving
parasites are removed from office.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
His comments made me feel sick to my stomach - people are losing their jobs and their homes - who do they really think they are. That's it! I will not be voting conservative as I now feel strongly his views really do reflect the atmosphere within the party. He should feel ashamed of himself.
- Steve, London
wannabe MPs know the basic salary when they sign up for an election...they take the salary for the kudos of being an MP and also for the pension and chances of getting a higher salaried job with another company/companies in the future on the back of having been an MP (jobs they would never been offered in a million years if they had not been an MP)
The problem with the current MPs is that many are now career politicians so only interested in an issue it if helps them progress their worth further rather than the interests of their constituents.
- Andy, london
If Mr.D. thinks he's short of a few bob he could always ask the wife !!!!!
- John.W, east kent
Oh dear. I wonder how much Gordon Brown is paid to manage the economy like s**t?
He simply sits there thinking about how to create a new tax leaving the rest of the country to live like s**t.
I am absolutely sick of this government.
- Simon Hall, London
I do like an earlier comment that suggests that if the Tories get in it will be a case of I’m alright jack!! Those days seem to have gone – which ever party get in it is a case of I’m alright Jack – whether they went to Eton, Harrow or Bishops Park in Jaywick. The Labour party have demonstrated that only to clearly.
- Andy Horlock, clacton on sea
Oh, dear, the "Don't Panic" site appears to have been shut down - video and all.
jerry, Stockport
- Jerry, Stockport, Cheshire
What a numpty, shouldn't have said this to a guy he knew was antagonistic already, but not everything he says is wrong.
For the level of effort and expertise, MPs could earn a lot more doing something else, that's certainly true.
Everything else he said is untrue. MPs could've earned more before this 'scandal' and there isn't a shortage of people who want to be an MP, and likely never will be. 64K is not a bad salary. Claiming any amount of money from your job for tending your own garden is not 'proper', unless you're a live-in gardener of some sort.
To be honest though, we get the politicians we deserve, if the minority of us who vote keep accepting second best and voting to keep out the marginally lesser evil, we're going to get bad MPs. Find the party that represents your view most closely and support them, vote for them, campaign for them, join them, whatever it takes, its your civic duty.
- Daniel, Manchester
I normally view these so called slips very cynically, but on this occasion I expect to see Duncan wearing Red Wig , a big red nose, and floppy shoes next at the next Conservative Party Conference 2009 in Manchester and to be introduced under his stage number Bozo the clown
Impossible to take such a comment serious it has to be a stand up routine
- Gary, Brentwood
I would like to be on "rations" of £64,000 a year. Try living of £25,000 in London when your partner is disabled and does not get sick pay. It seems to me most politicians live in a different world.
- Sharon Foster, Sutton, England
"No one who has done anything in the outside world, or is capable of doing such a thing, will ever come into this place ever again, the way we are going."
Like Gordon Brown, an academic? Peter Mandelson-a career politician? Or Tony Blair, who was a barrister for 7 years, but specialised in trade unions so always a political creature? Yup those captains of industry who know what they're doing will never be attracted to government. That's because govt is the preserve of those who have achieved nothing but want to tell us how to run our lives to make them think that they really have achieved something. And lest you think I'm just banging on about Labour, look at Chloe Smith, the new MP for Norwich. 27 years old and an ex-consultant for Deloitte and Touche. Pretty impressive huh. But wait! "After leaving school, she worked for former Education Secretary Gillian Shepherd." Hmmm. "After graduating from York University with a first in English literature, she also worked for former Conservative vice chairman Bernard Jenkin." Political work AND a degree in English literature, she sounds like a real captain of industry to me! But she's a consultant right? Lets see, what did she do there..."she advised private businesses, government departments, and public bodies."
I smell another career politician-fab.
- Ted, London UK
"MPs' lot is 's**t'"
I think you mean MP's are a lot of s**t don't you?
- Bob, Cheam
His comments are symptomatic of how politics is not only viewed by the politicians today, but also how it is in fact, ‘as a career’, and in some cases as a ‘family business’. We should limit the number of terms MP’s can stand they become too divorced from real life. He is right that “no capable person would want to enter Parliament” but not that this is due to the crackdown on allowances in the wake of the expenses scandal. Don’t the facts speak for themselves? Given the state the country is currently in it seems to suggest that we have never had anyone who could be described as a ‘capable person’ in parliament at least for the least 20 years...
- Ade, London
Mr Duncan, you were voted into office to represent your constituents best interests, not your own. If you don´t like the deal, stand down at the next election.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
The two egregious twerps in the video encapsulate in two slimy blue bodies everything that is wrong with parliament and why the populace hold them in such utter contempt. The arrogance, the feeling and expectation that they are entitled to be treated differently from the rest of us. The mocking of those that put these people there; their shameless self-serving and money-grubbing. There's a General Election coming up and we have to choose between two main parties that are corrupt and rotten to the core and peopled with unprincipled fraudsters amd vile liars. A curse and a pox on both their houses. These Augean stables need to be cleaned out now. Sack the lot and start again.
- Martyn Warwick, Chiswick, London, UK
I suppose thats why he had to take Mr Prouse to the house of Commons SUSIDISED bar for a drink he couldn't afford to go to a normal bar like us
- John Mclean, Mondron Spain
Mr Duncan you are so right.Expenses cheats like you deserved to be treated like S**t. Your words.
I thought one becomes an MP not to milk the system but to try and change or make things better and from what I have read the only thing Mr Duncan is good at is trying to find new techniques that can be used to fiddle his expenses
No one forced you to live on Rations Mr Duncan. If you can't live on your salary plus the inflated expenses to which you are entitled, be brave and resign.
But I am sure you won't because you would not be able to claim garden equipment on expenses.
If Mr Cameron wants to win the next general election then he should get rid of parasites like Alan Duncan or abolish him to the shadows of his garden.
- Curtis, Woodford Green
This is what happens when you allow a party run by old Etonians who think they have earned the right to riches and privilege simply by being born, to become serious contenders for running the country. If the Tories get in, then the toff attidude of 'sod you, I'm alright Jack' will once again prevail. It's up to the little people to slave away as teachers, nurses, public servants etc on wages that are only a fraction of what MPs earn (and still have to buy their own toilet rolls and pay for their own garden maintenance). People have short memories and, depressingly, history always repeats itself.
- Lw, london
Cuh! . . . MP's eh? . . . STILL not 'getting it'
And let's not forget the Greedy Bankers who are setting aside billions to pay themselves 'bonuses' again. . . only this time, it's with OUR money.
Perhaps it's time we told them all where to go . . . REVOLUTION, anyone?
- Silent Hunter, Stirling, Scotland
Simple. Get a job in the real world if you are so smart.
64K. Tell that to the every hard working person. You can bet for sure millions would break a leg to earn that, not to mention all the other perks.
- Asw, HK
What the hell do we do at the next general election? Labour, Conservative or some fringe extremist party: its like going to a restaurant and realising everything on offer is completely rotten.
- Mike, London
He got one thing right , he is a S**T and arrogant with it too !!!!!
Please leave if that's how you feel Alan. We really don't mind.
Do us all a favor. GO !
- Ataxpayer, London
I dont understand this constant argument that 'no1 will enter politics' now because of the expenses row.
UH 64k IS A LOT HIGHER than the avg wage, are they saying they work harder than nurses? than firemen, than the guys who put their life on the line for this country!?
of course people will always enter politics and they do it for the right reasons, not for the money but for the love of politics and for the love of the job. He is a fool for making these comments given that he is a millionaire several times over. As with the vast majority of people I 'scrape by' on £25k ish a year. It just shows how completely out of touch MPs are with the people they are SUPPOSED to represent
- Alanj, London
Oh good. Does that mean the little twerp is standing down at the next election.
- Tom Jennings, Brentford, UK
There's nothing against MP's making money outside Parliament: but if they do, let their salary from us be treated as an allowance, and deducted £ for £.That's how it works if you're on any other state benefit, doesn't it? If they really have talent, their outside income will rapidly compensate for the loss, and we'll admire them all the more for the abilities they bring to public service, free of cost to us. If it's outside experience Mr Duncan thinks is valuable, he can always serve as a JP, or on the board of a charity, can't he?
- Mdj E10, london uk
If Alan Duncan and any other MPs feel like s**t maybe it's because they are s**t!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
What we need in parliament are people who aren't too stupid to make mends meet on £64,000 a year.
- Melanie Carson, Dulwich, UK
In such a depressing time, it is saying something when one of the most gloomy aspects is the horrible prospect of being governed again by a political party whose elitism (topped off by bringing back old Etonians (lightweight models)), arrogance and lack of representation of ordinary 21st century diverse British people (when we really need it most) has not changed in over 100 years.
- Mike, London
Many former members of the Armed Forces get preciously nothing for years of service. My MP has made a fortune out of "optimising" his expenses yet will not lift a finger to help constituency Forces personnel. I was also talking to a Dutch pensioner who revealed that they get far more than UK pensioners.
- Fred, Horsham
I hear the argument that Mr Duncan could earn a much more lucrative salary by returning to the oil sector. Am I therefore compelled to feel sorry for him? Should I be grateful to someone has sacrificed his potential future earnings in order to share the wisdom that comes with unparalled experience working in the oil sector? Actually, I don't see the particular relevance or disproportionate benefit of this experience to the taxpayer, and I feel if Mr Duncan wants to earn more - the oil fields are waiting for you with open arms, and maybe we could have in his place some MPs who are grateful to represent us instead of this constant whinging.
- Ben Pearson, Hackney
It is very difficult to treat with any seriousness the comments of those here who use a pseudonym or just a first name. The MP is not hiding from what he said but you lot are!
The MPs' expenses scandal was just that. But, if you want a House full of political careerists then prepare for a very poorly run UK in future. The Commons needs to be populated with people from all walks of life and the pay needs to be attractive enough for all comers. Most MPs work away from home a lot and work very long hours. They also have to deal with anyone and everyone - that means with all those people that you and I might be glad not to have to deal with, ever.
£64k is not enough remuneration for the job of MP. It is asinine to relate this to a pensioner's income and makes the same sort of sense as relating a footballer's pay to a pensioner who can't afford to buy a season ticket. The pay of an MP should relate to comparable jobs and should be assessed by an independent body in the same way as is the pay of the Armed Forces.
MPs let us down and the expenses business was a scandal. But now let's get over it and let's leave them to run the country - and let's have a General Election, sooner than later.
Lastly, it is wrong to take a camera into the Commons. Let's be clear about that. It's easy to catch people off guard and we are a sorry bunch if we are going to report every word that everyone says at anytime and anywhere, MP or not. Let's grow up a bit.
- Lester May, London
They are treated like s**t Mr Duncan, because many of them and particularly YOU, are exactly that. If it wasn't for the fluke of your being an MP, a job that requires absolutely NO qualifications, you are totally unemployable.
- Lezli Taubler, London/England
Duncan's a fool, everyone knows that, but this Heydon chap is a bigger fool. Thanks to his short-sightedness we can now expect a greater divide between politicians and the electorate - which MP in their right mind would invite a constituent to meet with them at the House of Commons after this prank / publicity stunt to get people reading his rubbish little magazine.
- St, London
They just do not get it do they, con/lab/lib all the same, please vote for a local independent at the next election, its not rocket science X in the box where it says local independent PLEASE. İTS THE ONLY WAY TO GET RİD OF THE RABBLE.
- Steve, England
Bye bye ,off you go .You Sir,are treated that way because that is what you are.Do us all a favour and resign.
- David, london
He's expecting sympathy?? He cannot manage to survive on 64K per annum (plus expenses?) Oh dear...my heart bleeds for them all. If they don't want the job, then resign NOW and let someone else do it.
- Jb Sussex, hove sussex uk
"no capable person would want to enter Parliment..."
Explains a lot, given the last 10 years of mess. The problem is that MPs have had it too good for far too long, and don't like the idea that they might just have to live on a lower budget.
I manage to live on £25k a year. Perhaps Alan should pop round and I'll give him a few money saving ideas.
- Jock, London
You want it, here it is.....
This parasite cannot live on 64k a year.
DOES THIS WOMBLE KNOW THAT A PENSIONER IN THE UK GETS GBP18.57 PER DAY TO EXIST ON?
The sooner all the money-grabbing muppets are thrown out of the House of Conmen the better.
Money for nothing, money for old rope and my MP Geraldine Smith had the audacity to claim GBP249.99 FOR A BLASTED TABLE LAMP - WHILST PEEPS IN MORECAMBE ARE STARVING AND ON THE STREETS.
I will be first in the queue when 40,000,000 peeps in the UK march on Downing Street to drag the lot of them out by the scruff of their scraggy necks.
Hypocrites.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
the reality is that people like Alan Duncan could easily obtain much higher paid jobs, and we do need people with his sort of experience (a former oil trader): but that doesn't mean going back to an opaque and very dodgy expenses system: it does mean a more transparent a fair payment system for our MPs so that we can get away from this malign and dangerous fest based on knocking them as a group of people who are primarily motivated by greed: if they were they would be in the City and not in Westminster..
- Alan, London
As Dennis Healey may have said "What a silly-billy!".
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England
"Got to have a second income mate, couldn't survive on 64."
Further proof, if it were needed, of just how out of touch the Tories remain. You just wait: when they get in, it'll be "Just send your kids to private school", "Get on your bike" and worse.
- Tom, Barcelona, Spain
They should try living on 19,000 a year in London and see how that feels...what selfish people
- Sarah, London
You have to feel sorry for our poor MP's. Is there any way of getting food aid or donations to them?
- Julian, London
It is amazing how Tory MP's have got away scot free for their expense scams while the press coverage of Hazel Blears has incited yobs in her constituency to commit criminal acts. It seems that Cameron's Cabinet can pay back their unjustified expense claims and avoid any criticsm at all. Perhaps that is why Cameron was so keen to hang on to Mr Coulson.
- O Letwine, Acton England
He is not forced to do the job.
- Shallotman, Basildon
Cut the number of MPs down to 500 and make them do a lot more fior their money. Maybe Duncan will think twice about continuing and go into business earning serious money. Being an Mp is a public service. You are not expected to make money out of it.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon
Well, do what everyone else does if they don't like their job. Or can't you get another one? I'd love your job, so stop complaining!!!
- Dominique, Islington, London
Quote: Senior Tory Alan Duncan: Asked why people will no longer want to be MPs, he replied: “Basically, it's being nationalised, you have to live on rations and are treated like s**t.
Reply: Britain’s Pensioners feel the same Mr Duncan; they have been living on rations and treated like s**T for years, by your lot and Labours lot.
Quote: “I'm sorry that I was so generous in inviting this person to the Commons for a drink.”
Reply: Did you pay for the drink yourself; or did the Taxpayer pay for it?
Quote: Mr Duncan has already said he would pay back more than £4,000 of expenses, after details of his gardening costs were revealed, including hundreds of pounds spent to overhaul a ride-on lawnmower.
Reply: Did you know Mr Duncan that mentally ill people in Westminster are denied a Blue Badge to help get them to hospital; yet fit and able politicians like yourself, get free ride on lawn mowers on the taxpayer to ride around your gardens?
The film also shows an encounter with another Tory MP, Nigel Evans, in the Strangers' Bar. Referring to some sandwiches, the MP says:
Quote: “I made these myself. It's my second job!” Referring to the annual MPs' salary of £64,766, he adds: “Got to have a second income mate, couldn't survive on 64.”
Reply: Yet British people over the age of 65 now owe £8.4 billion between them and that figure is increasing daily.
This is because people like you Mr Nigel Evens MP; think £120 odd a week is more than enough to survive on.
- Mickinlondon, london.
Hands up " How many MP's entered Parliament to Make A Difference and How Many Just Wanted To Milk The System"..Mr Cameron get rid of this Moron and others like him if You Really Want To Win The Next Election...
- Mark, London
This little twerp thinks he's a comedian, as a senior politician he should shut his mouth. Joking about expenses shows a lack of judgement particularly as his snout wasn't particularly clean in the recent scandal. If he doesen't like the job find a different one. He doesn't make me want to vote conservative next time around.
- Peter, France
Utterly, utterly out of touch with the real world.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
"The shadow leader of the Commons was filmed claiming that no capable person would want to enter Parliament"
I've got news for you matey. From where we stand, no capable person goes in there now, never mind in the future.
Come on Cameron - give this bufoon his marching orders. But maybe you won't, since you only "sack" MPs who are on their way out anyway.
- Barry Chapman, Welwyn England
"no capable person would want to enter Parliament after the crackdown on allowances in the wake of the expenses scandal".
For £64k I can think of several million people who are capable and more importantly, honest who would gladly enter parliament.
- Jimbob, Kensington
Morning:
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