The Empire Strikes Backs
Having been found guilty in the 'court of public opinion' - MPs are now fighting a rearguard action in in the House of Commons over plans to reform their expenses.
According to press and media reports - MPs have launched a desperate bid to water down new rules on their expenses.
Members of all parties have signed a Commons motion urging Sir Ian Kennedy, the new chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) - see post dated 9 November - to ensure any new rules are 'in line with natural justice'.
The MPs want Sir Ian to be 'reasonable and proportionate' - and, significantly, to ignore dubious claims made in the past - on the grounds that these claims were 'approved'.
Conveniently, this ignores the fact that many approved claims turned a blind eye to the official guidance - which stated MPs should only submit claims that helped them do their jobs properly or more effectively.
So, claims for tins of dog food, floating duck houses and private cleaning services were always ludicrous - approved or otherwise - as MPs should have known themselves.
IPSA has the job of imposing new expenses rules, which are expected to be based on the report drawn up by Sir Christopher Kelly’s Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Sir Christopher has recommended that MPs should lose many of their current allowances and accept living conditions similar to other workers - what's wrong with that?
Sir Christopher Kelly says that MPs should - in future - be allocated modest flats at public expense, commute reasonable distances to Westminster and pay for food, cleaning and furniture out of their own pockets.
Hear, hear!
IPSA is planning to hold a consultation exercise over the new rules - allowing MPs and members of the public to give their views.
Keep your eyes peeled for how to have your say - but watch this space too - as we're likely to draw any useful information to our readers' attention.
According to press and media reports - MPs have launched a desperate bid to water down new rules on their expenses.
Members of all parties have signed a Commons motion urging Sir Ian Kennedy, the new chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) - see post dated 9 November - to ensure any new rules are 'in line with natural justice'.
The MPs want Sir Ian to be 'reasonable and proportionate' - and, significantly, to ignore dubious claims made in the past - on the grounds that these claims were 'approved'.
Conveniently, this ignores the fact that many approved claims turned a blind eye to the official guidance - which stated MPs should only submit claims that helped them do their jobs properly or more effectively.
So, claims for tins of dog food, floating duck houses and private cleaning services were always ludicrous - approved or otherwise - as MPs should have known themselves.
IPSA has the job of imposing new expenses rules, which are expected to be based on the report drawn up by Sir Christopher Kelly’s Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Sir Christopher has recommended that MPs should lose many of their current allowances and accept living conditions similar to other workers - what's wrong with that?
Sir Christopher Kelly says that MPs should - in future - be allocated modest flats at public expense, commute reasonable distances to Westminster and pay for food, cleaning and furniture out of their own pockets.
Hear, hear!
IPSA is planning to hold a consultation exercise over the new rules - allowing MPs and members of the public to give their views.
Keep your eyes peeled for how to have your say - but watch this space too - as we're likely to draw any useful information to our readers' attention.
