The scandal engulfing British members of parliament over their often startling expenses claims has started to bring down some prominent victims: the speaker of the House of Commons, two Labour Party MPs and four from the Conservatives at time of writing.
The Daily Telegraph, which obtained a disk containing unexpurgated details of claims for moat dredging, floating duck houses, plasma screen televisions and reimbursement for mortgages long paid off, is now on Day 19 of its unremittingly lurid revelations.
It’s hard to imagine that there can be much more of this, at least as far as the House of Commons is concerned, yet there probably will be.
Some political commentators are now beginning to wonder where else this story will lead.
One group of lawmakers has long been the target of stories about their expenses — members of the European Parliament. As this clip from RTL television shows, some of them are not too happy to be held up to scrutiny.
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5 comments so far
Whilst it is tempting to look at the European parliament for the next “snouts in the trough” story, it will problably be more interesting to look closer to home at local councils and civil servants for value for money stories. I live in Kent and note that someone has decided that its a good idea to have a 6 story multi-million pound horse erected near Ebbsfleet. Just think - we could have bought school books or funded a couple of nurses instead.
- Posted by Richard[...] million people, the casual observer of British politics might be a little bemused by the recent furore over MP’s expenses given the wider cost of such high levels of unemployment on the ecomony. It is firmly my belief [...]
- Posted by The big issue that needs a lot more attention – FreshMinds Talent BlogI read an inadvertently funny piece on the subject of MPs’ expenses on another news channel:
“The committee set up by Labour to look into expenses transgressions by its own MPs is to commence its deliberations on three cases. No decision is expected”.
Says it all really.
- Posted by PeterDear Sir,
- Posted by Roy ByfieldI am 75 years of age ,whilst these MPs have their noses in the trough,claiming for Matches,I am requested to pay £ 198 for dental treatment,out of a single persons pension, Justice ???
Doubt it Richard. I work in local government and efficiency savings have been an annual event for years. The private sector could learn a thing or too if they were forced to by Central Government as we are. Plus local councillore are legally obliged to disclose their expenses to the public. It’s always tempting to round up the usual suspects when the economy fails, yar boo the public sector as a whole which has its excesses in places but more in Whitehall than town hall. I’ve worked in the private sector too, a bank no less, so no wonder we are in this mess. Or should I not tar the whole private sector with the same brush?
- Posted by Dave