UK MPs' Expenses: Further Revelations Continue To Shock

Two of the abuses we learn of today are that David Chaytor, MP for Bury North, claimed almost £13,000 in interest payments for a mortgage he had already paid off, and that Tam Dalyell, the former Father of the House of Commons, submitted a claim for £18,000 (reduced by the Fees Office to £7,800, but paid by them) for bookcases only two months before he retired from working as an MP. And there are further disclosures of MPs having 'flipped' their homes. (Flipping is a technique whereby Members of Parliament switch the designation of their second home between several houses, which has the effect of allowing them to maximize their taxpayer-funded allowances, and in some cases to avoid capital gains tax.)

Some MPs have been disciplined by their party leaders; some have repaid monies they should not have claimed. And in some cases, the Metropolitan Police is making inquiries into MPs’ expenses claims.

Voters are angry and appalled and most want a general election to be held as soon as possible.

It must be stated that not all of our MPs have abused the expenses system, and the Telegraph gives details of some of these.

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By Margaret Wilde http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/