Scandal of UK MPs' Expenses Dominates News

Examples include Elliot Morley's claims for parliamentary expenses of more than £16,000 for a mortgage which had already been paid off, Harry Cohen's claims for expenses for redecorating his second home before selling it and charging taxpayers £12,000 in stamp duty and fees on a new property, the Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, selling and buying homes twice in a year and claiming expenses for buying a new TV and new bed for each new home, claims for expenses at homes that do not appear to have been lived in, claims for expensive furniture and kitchens, gardening costs, etc.

Some MPs who have cheated may even have to face the risk of prison for fraud or theft.

There has been a rush by many MPs to repay expenses that should never have been claimed and some MPs have resigned. There is much criticism of the Speaker of the Commons, Michael Martin, who sought to prevent details of MPs' expenses reaching the public domain. Some senior MPs are demanding that he stand down as Speaker.

The public's anger and disgust at the greed and dishonesty of Members of Parliament cannot be exaggerated, especially in this time of belt-tightening, and many would welcome a general election for the opportunity of voting out the ones who have incurred their displeasure.

References from Telegraph.

Margaret Wilde www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk