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MPs of all parties were in uproar this evening as they saw their expenses being cut to ribbons.
The £60,000 payoffs for outgoing MPs is to be reduced to £10,000. Second home claims, hotel stays and jobs for MPs' wives and children are all on the hit list. The Standard was told that even first-class air and rail travel, a cherished perk, may be facing the axe.
There was anger and anguish at Westminster over the leaked details from a report by standards watchdog Sir Christopher Kelly.
London and South-East MPs reacted particularly furiously. At least 48 MPs in the capital will lose some £3,250 with a halving of the London salary supplement.
Another proposal, branded "idiotic" and "woolly", is to ban £24,000 second home expenses for people living within 60 minutes by train from Westminster.
Mr Brown told MPs this afternoon: "I think all Members of Parliament want to bring the old discredited system of expenses to an end and they want to bring in as quickly as possible a new system of expenses."
The Prime Minister said Sir Christopher's report will be published next Wednesday and then he expected the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority "to be given the power to implement it in detail".
That comment ruled out an early vote for MPs on the proposals. But Mr Brown then appeared to contradict himself by adding: "That is a matter for the House."
The Prime Minister's stance put him on a collision course with backbenchers demanding a vote on reforms. But an unrepentant No10 source said MPs must lump it: "This is what the PM meant when he said he would end self-regulation by MPs and end the 'gentlemen's club' at Westminster. It is tough but necessary."
One of the most senior MPs, Sir Stuart Bell, warned that it would be "totally unacceptable" to have South-East and outer London MPs forced to commute in the middle of the night - a real possibility if their second homes were stripped away.
He predicted that MPs would "baulk" at being forced to sack wives who are long-serving secretaries.
Currently, only central London MPs are excluded from claiming for a second home, but under the Kelly proposals any MP with a constituency in "reasonable commuting distance" of Westminster will have to meet their own accommodation costs.
MPs claimed the Kelly changes are so dramatic that they will have to be put to a vote at some stage.
No 10 sources said practical problems raised by some MPs would be for the authority to consider.
Exactly how the proposals would work is unknown as only a few details have leaked out. Former Tory minister Christopher Chope urged the report be made public immediately to put MPs out of their misery.
The reforms would be phased in over five years in order to enable sitting MPs to adjust to the new arrangements without losing heavily on property sales. One senior source said: "If there is five years to wait, that would be OK with most of us." Labour's Tony Wright said MPs should "bite the bullet" in order to win back public trust. Labour MP John Mann agreed that MPs should give in, however much they disliked the reforms.
Three who could lose out
Among dozens of MPs who will lose out with the £7,500 London supplementary allowance being slashed by half. The Hendon MP said: "At the moment all we know is what has been leaked and it is impossible to comment properly without knowing the rationale."
Roger Gale
Roger Gale, the MP for North Thanet, is furious that he will have to stop employing his wife Suzy as secretary.
"The man who is held up to be the custodian of standards might have done us the courtesy of letting us read the report before it was leaked to the Press," he said.
Humfrey Malins
One of the South-East MPs who may be barred from claiming second home expenses. The Woking MP could travel into Waterloo on a train in less than an hour although the entire journey from his door to the Commons might take more than an hour, especially late at night.
Reader views (86)
Pigs always squeal, it's their nature.
- Pee'D Off Oap, London/UK
This is all hyperthetical as from the signing of the Lisborn Treaty, in many respects Parliment will cease to exist and THEY will probably come under Euro Legislation / Standards re Expenses AN Saleries...so they KNOIW they are in for a big increase with 0 public scrutiny in a few years time.
Just VGOTE the lot out at the next election which should not be about Party Politics but a REVOLUTION of out elected representatives.
- Clif, London
If the M.P.s' are really upset with the pay & conditions under the new arrangements,I expect many of them will decline being reelected.If those who are complaining do put themselves up for reelection,then all I can say is that they are hypcrites,unless of course they are too incompetent to find alternative employment.Of course M.P.s' should be paid a salary suitable for the post they undertake,& they should not be out of pocket if they have to endure additional costs due to the nature of their employment,I do not think any right minded person would want otherwise.Past revelations have shown abuses have been perptrated & a new broom has been necessary to sweep all these abuses to one side.For years M.Ps have been telling the big trade unions to stop their members making unreasonable demands,now is the time for them to have a taste of their own medicine.
- Ronald Whitten, Chesterfield England
- Scotty, London with your comments i take it you are an MP .
as you say the job requires an excellent calibre of individuals so from the showing of the current bunch of MPs the money did not attract anyone of that calibre.
£65k is a lot of money to most people of this country and a lot of very good people woud be willing to accept it to do the job for the people
- Ed, london
It is about time these whining spivs were given the option, take it or leave it.
Many London hospitals and schools are being closed or reduced in capacity, then sold and demolished.
Why not use complusory purchase powers to buy some within a sensible distance from Parliament, develop them into two bed flats, furnish them like Holiday Inn Hotels with coffee facilities in each room and a hotel
restaurant obliging all those MP's and peers who require overnight accomodation to book one each time needed like evryone else.
Provide a minibus service only to and from Parliament.
No other options, no stay, they pay, not us.
- Ken.H, Harrow. UK
MPs should realise that these measures have been proposed because of the systematic abuse of the expenses system which has been going on for decades. Some MPs have got used to the undeserved feeling of entitlement about these abuses, and have grown rich, with multi-million pound property portfolios funded on the backs of the British taxpayers.
They have only themselves to blame.
The anger and disgust of what amounts to an abuse of the trust of the public will only diminish once a new regime of salary and expenses is seen to be fair to both taxpayers, MPs and, let's not forget them, the Lords.
If MPs don't like it they are free to seek employment elsewhere, though, from what I've observed lately, most of them couldn't get a job cutting string.
- Kate, London
Scotty, so according to you, we would be better off with people like Fred Goodwin as MPs rather than experienced police officers or nurses for whom £65,000 would be a very nice salary. I know one person who earns the kind of money an MP does, an ad sales manager. I don't know anyone who would be taking a pay cut to do the job. Nor do most people. Presumably none of us is fit to be an MP.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
If you don't like the terms and conditions. Don't apply for the job, simple.
- Frank, Bournemouth, England
'How about making it at a week for every year after the first 2 years and then putting a cap on it of say £380 per week? That's what the rest of us are legally entitled to by law regardless of how much you earn,Bob, Cheam' Wrong Bob. It may happen in the private sector, but due to the 'Contractual' nature of the public sector,a large proportion of their staff get redundancy based on normal sallary levels of £500 per week and above. Submit a freedom of information request, you'll be surprised at what you will get back. This is all the way through the public sector, not just MP's
- Alan, c
can you not publish a list of all the mps who fiddled their expenses,then we would know who not to vote for.
- John, benidorm,spain
@trevor, Southend.
for all the best intentions, 65K is not very much money for a high calibre individual.
as for the + expenses bit, suggest you try reading this very article. that's in the firing line.
there is always a painful truth to these things, and unfortunately lowering conditions will just attract even less impressive candidates.
maybe we have too many, sure.
maybe we have the wrong ones, sure.
maybe they don't deliver value, sure.
maybe we need to pay them like the average plodder, no!
the type of person needed would be taking a massive pay cut, whereas the type of person who thinks that is an ample or excessive salary is just not the type of person needed.
- Scotty, London
Oh dear what a shame,
When you take liberties for too long within THE RULES and they are bent what do you expect!
It only takes one rotten apple in the barrel but when there
are more trouble looms. Tough!
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19
They are squealing now, just wait until we drag them before the courts to answer for their greed and corruption!
Now let's get started on the Flippers and make them pay back every penny they made by the practice. No MP that has "Flipped" should remain in Parliament.
- Carl, London
Adam
sadly these days MPs take the job knowing that in a few years when they leave Parliament they will be able to walk into an extremely well paid job from the connections they made whilst an MP
- Andy, l
Given the duplicitous way MPs work very hard to keep the truth from us we have to rely on leaks to find out what is going on.
They were elected to represent us not rip us off.
Wonderful schadenfreude watching this greedy bunch squirm as they are brought back into line.
- Justin Thyme, London
The indignant oinking as the piggies are torn away from the public trough is music to my ears!
- Ben, Berkshire
Do 9am to 5:30pm like the rest of us with 25 days hols not half the year and stop your belly aching, does a nurse working a night shift or anyone else who might have to work after the trains stop running get an allowance to buy a house beside their place of work. Good on you Gordon kick them to touch.
- Sharon, Hackney
My son is a police officer in London and works shifts.
Welcome to the real world you greedy devils. You have spoilt it for the few MPs who are decent. You only work half a year anyway - if that!
Pat
- Pat Morgan, spain
"The resettlement grant, currently up to £60,000"
I wasn't even aware of this, you serve 4 years and then get a years pay when you get booted because you're useless. How about making it at a week for every year after the first 2 years and then putting a cap on it of say £380 per week? Oh that's right, that's what the rest of us are legally entitled to by law regardless of how much you earn, following those rules MP's would get just over a months pay when their electorate turned on them.
- Bob, Cheam
Thomas Hayes comments:
"They get enough salary to cover all reasonable expenses"
and this is the problem, an MP is not very highly paid. the job requires an excellent calibre of individuals, and they are not paid enough to attract the right talent.
the right talent can and *does* earn a lot more than an MP's salary.
the average man on the street might not earn as much as an MP, and like a few actual MP's, they also lack the talent and ability to perform a job of that standing.
As for John from twickenham, well, validating my initial assertion isn't going to convince me I was wrong!
- Scotty, London
@ Sm, London, UK
They can fork out from their own pockets matey.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
At last! One hurdle has been cleared. All that remains is to prosecute those who quite openly stole from the public purse.
One cuckoo doesn't make a spring - but at least this is a start.
Well done!
- Steve, Bexhill
still moaning?take it or leave it.
- Fodil, london
I was under the impression that MP's choose this job so they can add improve this country and the common people who live and work in it and pay their taxes etc, it seems that they go in it to make a fast pound and only benefit themselves,, its about time they were brought to book and made to account for their inflated expenses, they should think themselves lucky, some people dont even own a home or have a home let alone two !!About time too in this cash strapped time we live in. pur greed !
- Adam, london
How do they think all the thousands of people who work at night in London cope getting home - bar staff, hospital workers, shop staff - you know, NORMAL folk who not only work but are on their feet for hours, not lounging around in comfy chairs being waited on hand and foot in the subsidized restaurants the MPs enjoy? There should be no argument about any of this, they should just knuckle down and get on with it and be grateful we are allowing them the privilege of doing so.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
Scotty London
"many of you demonstrate the analytical rigour and sophistication of a house plant". And you,judging by your comments, have yet to reach that standard. If you consider that £65000 plus London weighting, plus expenses, plus freebies would mean only the wealthy could afford to take the job, cloud and cuckoo land come to mind.
- Trevor, Southend UK
1) Do not vote for any sitting MP
2) Do not vote for any candidate not willing to accept significant cuts in their allowance, just as the people face significant cuts in services
3) Do vote for the BNP
Its the only way to clear out all these scumbags.
The late night cleaners who work in the House of Commons have to catch the late night bus home and its safe for them.
- Lee, Hayes middlesex
They will have to share night buses with clubbers, alcoholics, gangsters, etc.
- John, London
Oh dear .... this is all getting so daft ..... provide a reasonable alternative - a university halls of residence or Travelodge style accommodation (cooking and washing facilities en suite) for them to be available as and when necessary with a food counter open when too late to purchase food locally. Portcullis House was built at a cost of millons, build another such unit or convert one of the many in the government property portfolio eg ugly sisters, marsham st. Funding can easily be found by ditching any number of idiotic Labour schemes/quangos/admin staff/beurocratic divisions and there we go, all sorted. It's so simple, why is no one postulating this idea ! ?
- Voice Of Reason, London
Let them eat cake, like the rest of the poor bloody commuters.
- Davidke, ramsey isle of man
All i can say to all the MP's is Welcome to the real world!!!, its about time you know how normal citizens of this country live, we dont all get chauffeur driven cars, get all our expenses paid for by our employers.
- Kuldip, London, UK
Many people working in central London travel much longer than an hour to get to a job that pays them less than the mps and often involves longer hours. If they are within commuting distance they should commute like the rest of us. Only positive note is once they see how bad public transport has become, if they have to use it, they might do something about it!
- Mo, London
If this was leaked to the press first - good! That way the public can see what else the MPs are trying to wriggle out of us. Don't worry MPs you can get home.It might be on a late tube or a late bus that you have to wait ages for but if we can do it so can you. Then with the money that you don't fleece from us who knows - maybe transport will have more to make things better for all of us.
- Lou, London
I regularly used to sit in on evening debates between 9 & 11 pm but I understood that Chairman Tone revised the hours for his Babes. Exactly how many debates lasting beyond 7 pm has there been in the last 10 years?
- Bj, London
BJ - every Monday and Tuesday night, the House is in session until 22:00 (later if there are votes at the end of session), with a half-hour debate afterwards. There are frequently important late-night votes, and these are more likely in the event of a hung parliament, or one where there is a very small majority. Whilst I was disgusted by some of the expenses abuses, I do not see how it is practical to expect MPs to commute when train services don't run throughout the night. On this matter, I do have sympathy with them.
- Sm, London, UK
oh dear. they have never experienced the real world have they? Try starting work in the morning like the rest of the population and niot having half the year off in holidays and perhaps you won't need to be at work late at night.
- Mr Opinion, London
Interesting that Scotty London accuses many of possessing the acumen of a pot plant, and then a few posts later in supporting Sally P's (excellent) suggestion, contradicts himself in a manner a pot plant would be proud.
Well done old chap. Back to the horticulture for you
- John, Twickenham
Assuming you accept the argument that MPs can't be expected to commute (which I don't) why can't they be provided with a basic room in a dormitary block (similar to student accommodation)? After all their families generally live in the constituencies so there is no need for additional rooms.
- Tobin, Andover
They get enough salary to cover all reasonable expenses . The rest of the working population have to meet their expenses out of their wages and salaries. Most of them just sit in their seats all day unless a vote is called for so there is no reason for them to be there EVERY day.On their kind of salaries, I could do that job easily.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
I regularly used to sit in on evening debates between 9 & 11 pm but I understood that Chairman Tone revised the hours for his Babes. Exactly how many debates lasting beyond 7 pm has there been in the last 10 years?
- Bj, London
All this could have been avoided if the Metropolitan Police or the SFO had arrested and charged those that had committed fraud in the first place?
Instead; all we are seeing now are steps to avoid any arrests, by appearing to clean up fraud by politicians, in order to pacify and silence the voting public.
Make no mistake here; no-matter what new regulations are introduced; these MP’s will find a way around the rules, they always do?
The only way to clean up any den of thieves, is to arrest them and produce them before a court of law; if they are innocent, or have good lawyers, they will be freed; if they are not innocent, or use legal aid lawyers; they will be found guilty as charged.
Crime committed is still crime; the law is there to be used to fight crime; so why has the law not been used for corrupt MP’s, and their crimes?
Remember this; All that glitters, is not gold.
- Mickinlondon, london
Do not vote at all. We are all corrupted by the system, and we do not "need" a government.
- Neil, London, London UK
About time too. Let them understand some of the rage and frustration of the current electorate (me included).
- Marianne, SW France/London
And another thing... maybe if they didn't take 4 months off over the summer, they would have a few more weeks in each year to actually transact parliamentary business and therefore not need to work late. Just a thought.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
very telling, that Sally P's ounce of common sense, has been roundly ignored.
the only sensible opinion so far.
- Scotty, London
In circumstances where a substantial proportion of our so called representatives are lightweight lobby fodder who would struggle to get a job of equivalent remuneration in the private sector they would do well to keep their heads down and their mouths shut.
- Peter, Ipswich UK
my daughter worked twilight shifts at ST. THOMAS'S Hospital opposite the Commons. She finished her shift AT 2AM and would make wayhome. No second home for her or subsidised transport. One of our local MP's Angela Watkins described public transport as too dangerous for her too use! Not for the ordinary plebs though! Our own MP Andrew Rosindell has a second home in London although describing himself as living in Romford. They are absoluteloy shameless and grasping.
- Maureen Oconnell, romford essex
The significant 'don't do' at the next election is :-
1) Do not vote for any sitting MP
2) Do not vote for any candidate not willing to accept significant cuts in their allowance, just as the people face significant cuts in services
3) Do not vote for the BNP
Memers of Parliament are so because of the people and they assumed the role of servants to the people
It really is long overdue that the people delivered a reality check to them all
- John, Twickenham
many of you demonstrate the analytical rigour and sophistication of a house plant.
what a great idea this is. lets go back to the old days when only the landed and hereditary wealthy could afford to enter politics.
genius!
- Scotty, London
Oh dear the poor things! Fancy having to travel on a packed commuter train with the great unwashed! It is enough to reduce me to tears. If they like some of them can sit near me and I will tell them!
- Rhoda, staines, middlesex
Why can't they commute? We all have to. Why do they feel they are so important and special? Could these troughing pigs possibly show just a little humility? They disgust me and they still don't get it.
- Margy, London
If you do not like the way the job is going to become then please feel free to leave ,I dare say there are enough unemployed who would only be too keen to take your jobs and who would do a better job probably. Oh and why we are at it lets cut the MPs holidays to 5 weeks a year paid like the rest of the country workers has to have. Welcome to Britain 2009!!
- Dave, Isle of Wight
So what's the big deal for Humfrey Malins? I regularly see Vince Cable - my local MP - on the 8.09am from Twickenham to Waterloo, packed into cattle class like the rest of us. And I sometimes see him on a late train back out too - usually after 10.30pm. He manages to do that and be a Lib Dem front bench spokesman with a profile far higher than Mr. Malins. If Vince has managed to commute for all these years then I'm sure Mr. Malins - whoever he is - can get the hang of it. If not, then the voters of Woking can assist by making his life much easier from next year.
- Paul, Twickenham, London
Never mind their whingeing..;savour the coming sound of blissful silence in May when they all get thrown out.
- Amoreno, Luxembourg
What on earth are people talking about when they say pay them a proper salary?About 17 weeks holiday a year,roughly a 3 day week,to fit around another job!I don't consider more than £64.ooo a year for part time badly paid .That is why there is always a big rush for political vacancies.Were these people forced at gun point to become an MP?Get rid of the lot of them and make the new lot work from 9-5 like the rest of us.If this mob are looking to go to the Lords with all their perks shut that place up as well.
- Maddy, Gedney Drove End UK
Its stunning how civil servants (either working directly for the goverment or in government subsidised companies) are so utterly, utterly unaware of how easy they have it. Most of them wouldnt last one minute in the private sector and that is why they stay in their jobs and moan/strike rather than leave for something that pays better.
- John Entwistle, Hertford, England
Welcome to the real world of sharing late night tubes,buses and trains! Thousands of us "plebs" use them. Welcome to the real world.Remember we use our wages to pay our fares to and from work.Why cant London MP's and those MP's with constituencies within an hours commute of London se their wages to travel to and from work in the House of Commons. I would include Brighton in with that!!
- Jim, London
Ha! Ha! Ha! The smelly pigs loitering in the House of Conmen have had their long snouts removed from the bottomless trough of taxpayers' cash.
NOW SELL ALL THOSE SECOND HOMES (AND THE CONTENTS THEREOF) AND RETURN THAT CASH TO JOE PUBLIC AS WELL.
My local MP Geraldine Smith (Morecambe and Lunesdale) has a recorded attendance record of just 59% in the House of Conmen - she should now return the extortionate 41% of her obscene expenses claimed in the past five years.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
Do you see that red lump over there beating? That's my heart bleeding.
Welcome to the real world! Why do politicians think they are special in having to work late and/or away from home. Hundreds of thousands of people do it every week and they do not enjoy subsidised mortgages or free porn.
Any MP that is not happy with the situation can join the back of the dole queue.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
Welcome to the world the rest of us have to live in.
- Derek, London
They do have a point. But we could issue them with flak jackets and CS spray. Alternatively they could rent or take hotel rooms and pay out of their own pocket if they feel threatened..
- Dhan Raj, Basildon
The working hours of Parliament were changed many years ago to ensure that MPs would finish work at a 'normal' time...late night sittings of Parliament don't exist as they once did. Therefore there is no reason why MPs can't commute like their constituents do. On the rare occasion they are required to stay late working say after 9pm (not wining and dining) I see no reason why taxis cannot be booked otherwise join the rest of us on the last train home (when they finally see the way the train companies treat their customers (standing room only) and the poor levels of safety at night perhaps they might actually start to work for their constituents and take on the train companies)
- Andy, london
start work at 9:00am then
- Jtdx, cph, denmark
The lack of sympathy for the plight of MPs is striking. To quote Roger Gale MP, in the context of our MPs and not Sir Christopher Kelly, "they don't live in the real world". Just to remind him, the majority of us work long hours, but without the comfort of perks enjoyed by those sitting in Westminster. And yes, we also have to balance budgets, ensuring that home, family, travel and leisure can be afforded from income.
So, what makes their case so special?
- Matt, London
Welcome to the real world....
- Richard, London
Great excellent but john Bercows message today in the Telegraph is a disgrace , what is Cameroon going to do about that.All these people work for the public and will do and get paid as we say as its our money.Every person who has been involved in skulduggery must pay back every penny.Bercow seems to be letting some off the hook, which flys in the face of what Cameron was saying over the last few months. Cocky little fellow he is. As for the comments above tough lads welcome to the real world where we have to commute everyday from long distances and back again in the evening.I agree with no second home allowances and they can stay overnight in a hotel or have a small flat to rent.That is perfectly adequate.My god dont they moan and if they want our votes they are going to have to shape up or we will ship them out.
- Roderick Heffernan, england
The troughing pigs are squealing. There must be something right about the proposal. Bring on the election and clear the whole lot of them out, they are a disgrace.
- Carl, London
Boo Hoo! Having been wrenched off the Gravy Train MPs are about to get a reality check and find out what a real train is like.
I know plenty of workers in London, from the Hospitality Industry and Health Service who have to find their way home at night - on a fraction of an MP's pay.
It might encourage our MPs to improve public transport in the Capital.
There is an election coming up, if they don't like the new system they are not forced to put there names forward as candidates.
- Mark Myword, London
Oh dear what a shame poor things they will now have to get up at the crack of dawn struggle on packed and late transport and also have to take a pay cut WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD PAL !
- Linda Cliff, London
Don't MPs have private offices, surely they can have roll away beds for the late sessions. It's not like their working late every night, once in a blue moon for most of them.
- Paul, London
Had to get a tissue to wipe the tears from my eyes when I heard, through laughter of course.
- P Staker, London
So, no more relatives working for you, and no more mortgage payments on second homes, and having to share public transport with the rest of us proles. Oh dear. The RULES would now appear to state that Mr Smith MP can employ MR Jones MP's wife, and rent Mr Jone's London property, whilst Mr Jones MP, can Employ Mr Smith MP's wife and rent Mr Smith's London property. No change at all, but still within the rules. Who dreams these schemes up???
- Alan, carlisle uk
Steve, havering
I like the thinking, and i quite fancy a new place on the river, so maybe turn it into Flats???
- Daniel, London
These MPs are no better than the rest of us. If they have to work late, they can stay overnight in a hotel or hostel, as the rest of us would do. If they have to commute, they can take a bus, a train, or even a taxi, all at their own expense ofcourse. I say it again, they are no better than the rest of us.
- Dave Whiteside, Bebington, Wirral
What's all the fuss about? Here are some blindingly simple suggestions for the future:
1. Halve the number of MPs
2. Pay the remainder a decent salary so that there's no excuse for a "day job"
3. Allow them to employ whomever they choose after a transparent and open selection process
4. Have sensible hours so there's no need for all-night sittings
5. Allow purchase of second homes but keep a public stake in the equity
6. Alternatively, provide overnight accommodation by means of block hotel bookings/ "company flats"
Simple, isn't it?
- Sally P London, London
Move the whole Westminster gravy train to the Midlands with parliament and even basic accomodation. This will ease pressure and migration to London which as a city has become too expensive but can stand on its own two feet with private sector employment and does not need a huge civil service. By moving to the Midlands you can create jobs where needed and it is in central England so fair. Westminster can still be used for state opening of parliament and other than that be a great tourist attraction where guides can tell people about how 600 odd people used to gather periodically and bleed taxpayers dry.
- Steve, havering
As all of them will undoubtedly be kicked out of office at the next election their "second homes" which have been paid for by tax payers must be sold and the proceeds returned to the treasury. To say they will be commuting in the middle of the night is complete nonsense. An MP's job is at best part-time and can be carried out during office hours. They will be hard pressed to find alternative employment which pays such an over generous salary and expenses and requires attendance for just six months per year.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
The poor dears!I have commuted to London for the past 35 years and have never lived closer to London, than one hours travelling time by train. I frequently used to get the first train into London and the last out and still got up for work to be in by 8.00 am at the latest the next day. I certainly never earned what these lazy MP's get nor did I have 80 day summer breaks from commuting or the xmas breaks. I am not alone, the trains were always packed with people getting into London at this time although there were fewer people travelling back as late as I did. They should try living in the real world!!
- David, Ashington
"totally unacceptable" to have South-East MPs forced to commute in the middle of the night.
Why? Everyone else has to if they work late, to most people it doesn't happen very often, perhaps once or twice a month but to those in high pressure jobs it happens all the time. I'd like to think that an MP's role might be considered "high pressure" but current thinking seems to be more "slacker" than anything else.
- Bob, Cheam
Now that they have to commute with the rest of us, they may have more of an incentive to provide a decent transport system. When the Tube workers go on strike, they may want to put a stop to that. When there are dirty over crowded trains, they may want to provide decent train services. Welcome to our World MPs! Its about time.
- Jk, Kent
A step in the right direction, look at the People who travel to London on a daily basis do you hear them whining, People all over the Country travel to work, a better alternative, is to build an apartment complex in London and that they live there, charge them rent, electricity, the only free thing would be the phone for pokitical use and travel expenses for THEMSELVES on government business, IF THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT, THEN GO AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB IF THEY ARE CAPABLE.
- Agnes & Robert, vancouver canada
How they squeal when their snouts are pulled from the trough.
Welcome to the real world where real people do have to get up pretty much before they go to bed in order to provide for their family. Get used to it!
- Jimbob, Kensington
Stick them in a B & B for the night. The taxpayer would get a discount on group bookings. Do these MPs not realise that the public are sick to death of their whinging and whining while most of us are working harder, longer hours for a pittance compared with what they screw out of us, and in some cases losing our jobs! They are there to serve us not to fiddle taxpayers money. If they don't like it then maybe they could find a proper job to do like the rest of us have to.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
Oh dear, how my heart bleeds.... welcome to the real world!
- Goggs, London
oh dear did the poor little MP's just get a taste of the real world - diddums
- Stuart, london
The employment of spouses enabled MPs to get "another snout in the trough". When asked what Jacqui Smith's husband did to earn the £40,000 p.a. voters in her constituency replied that he "looked after the children, did a bit of light dusting, and the rest of the day he spent ironing his pinny".
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
What is it with this constant banning of things? Why not a bit of freedom for a change?! Why not, if MPs are allowed to claim mortgages on expenses, they just allow everybody else do the same. Now, I'm sure that'll be a vote winner. And why stop there? There are lots of people with moats that need cleaning too!
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
