MSPs' Expenses
The Sunday Herald ran an interesting article yesterday - highlighting some rather strange expenses claims from members of the Scottish Parliament.
Apparently, during the first nine months of 2009 - MSPs claimed £1,509 in taxi fares between Holyrood and Waverly Station.
For the uninitiated, the Holyrood Parliament is a very short walk from Waverly - 10 minutes at most - quite why any MSP should make such a claim in the first place is a mystery.
Embarrassingly, Labour's transport spokesman Charlie Gordon - and former leader of Glasgow City Council - claimed for a taxi journey 53 times during this period.
The amount of money may be small - but the relaxed attitude towards spending public money is a much bigger issue.
The cost of travel for politicians and civil servants is considerable - in many cases they are allowed to travel first class - which seems a terrible waste of money in these harsh times.
So, let's encourage the people to get out of their taxis - and first-class compartments - and rub shoulders with the rest of us.
Apparently, during the first nine months of 2009 - MSPs claimed £1,509 in taxi fares between Holyrood and Waverly Station.
For the uninitiated, the Holyrood Parliament is a very short walk from Waverly - 10 minutes at most - quite why any MSP should make such a claim in the first place is a mystery.
Embarrassingly, Labour's transport spokesman Charlie Gordon - and former leader of Glasgow City Council - claimed for a taxi journey 53 times during this period.
The amount of money may be small - but the relaxed attitude towards spending public money is a much bigger issue.
The cost of travel for politicians and civil servants is considerable - in many cases they are allowed to travel first class - which seems a terrible waste of money in these harsh times.
So, let's encourage the people to get out of their taxis - and first-class compartments - and rub shoulders with the rest of us.
