MPs expenses - new proposal comes from the dark ages
April 23, 2009 12:44 PM
Gordon Brown yesterday (Wednesday) announced his proposal on how to change MPs expenses to restore public confidence in the Labour Government. He has proposed a flat daily allowance for all MPs attending Westminster if they do not represent a London constituency.
Liberal Democrats say that is clearly wrong because every penny from the public purse needs to be accountable. MPs need to produce receipts and show that they are not using public money for personal gain.
Moving back to an old fashioned allowance system, that has even been removed in Local Government to stop abuse, is stepping back into the dark ages. All expenditure by MPs needs to be visible, published and vigorously audited.
Sal Brinton, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Watford said: 'I have been out knocking on doors in seven wards in Watford in the last few days. Residents, totally unprompted, have been raising their anger with Claire Ward and the whole system. They do not see why tax payers living in Watford should be supporting our local MPs mortgage and lifestyle.
'My challenge to Claire Ward is that she not only rejects these proposals but that she publicly supports a much more accountable system where every penny spent is clearly visible. She must also, as a Government whip, not ask her Labour colleagues to support this ridiculous scheme.'
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