Expenses rules could be understood by a child (From Knutsford Guardian)

Expenses rules could be understood by a child

11:30am Friday 26th June 2009

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THOSE MPs exposed as thieves or fools have nearly all reacted in the same way: 1st Verse: ‘I am completely blameless.’ 2nd Verse: ‘I have made a mistake.’ 3rd Verse: ‘It’s the fault of the rules.’ The third verse has variants. Tony McNulty MP: “These payments result from claims erroneously allowed by the Fees Office.”

Who made the claims in the first place? Bob Ainsworth, Arms Forces Minister: “The allowance system is now completely discredited.” Why then use it at all?

It is the greedy claimants who have been discredited; the rules are, of course, pretty straightforward and could be understood by a child in middle school years.

These glib responses demonstrate what an unreal world these people inhabit, their mentality gravely affected by the opium of power.

Most of those who are standing down have shamelessly postponed their departure in order to stop further bounty from the taxpayer in the shape of the ‘resettlement grant’.

If they left now – the honourable course – then even allowing for the costs of holding by-elections, much would be saved.

The Commons Fees Office would no longer be under siege with claims for TVs, sofas, bookcases, Christmas trees, Mars bars and mortgage relief.

Any surplus could be applied to improving the quality of equipment used by our young soldiers fighting in Afghanistan.

Some of our elected representatives have shown professionalism and guile in milking the taxpayer on a scale which leaves ordinary benefit cheats far behind.

I tried to muster some interest in the European elections, but found it difficult.

If this is the code of morality which our own MPs live by, then I wonder what our MEPs have been up to.

JOHN BURKE Free Green Lane Lower Peover

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