Public Watchdog Muzzled by MPs
So the public watchdog on MPs' expenses has been muzzled - that's the only conclusion to be drawn from the announcement by IPSA - the formerly 'Independent' Parliamentary Standards Authority.
Under pressure from MPs and facing the threat that IPSA would be abolished if the expenses rules were not relaxed - the quango has caved in and used even more public money to quell the rebellion from 'honorable members'.
Now I wouldn't mind so much if MPS had made a decent case.
But the 'evidence' IPSA seems to have taken into account are essentially 'fishermen's tales' about anonymous MPs having to sleep in their offices.
And now even more of them will have access to a £20,000 a year housing allowance - just because they live in Outer London.
Speaking as someone who has lived and worked in London in the past - I have to say that it really is ridiculous that MPs should demand more favourable treatment than the rest of the population.
Normal human beings commute in and out of London every day - but they don't enjoy the three day week most MPs work at Westminster - or the long breaks when Parliament is not in session.
Most MPs travel down to Westminster on a Monday afternoon and back to their constituencies on a Thursday - and as that's only three nights away from home why do they need a £20,000 a year housing allowance?
So the whole thing is madness really.
For a while back MPs were in the public spotlight as never before - and as the MPs' expenses scandal engulfed Westminster they were keen to put their house in order in double quick time.
Now that the heat is off they are trying to recover some of that lost ground - slowly, slowly and bit by bit.
Yet the truth is that MPs should be judged by the same standards as everyone else - by the same standards as the people they claim to represent.
Which is why expenses watchdog should be standing up for the public interest - not the self-serving interests of our MPs.
Under pressure from MPs and facing the threat that IPSA would be abolished if the expenses rules were not relaxed - the quango has caved in and used even more public money to quell the rebellion from 'honorable members'.
Now I wouldn't mind so much if MPS had made a decent case.
But the 'evidence' IPSA seems to have taken into account are essentially 'fishermen's tales' about anonymous MPs having to sleep in their offices.
And now even more of them will have access to a £20,000 a year housing allowance - just because they live in Outer London.
Speaking as someone who has lived and worked in London in the past - I have to say that it really is ridiculous that MPs should demand more favourable treatment than the rest of the population.
Normal human beings commute in and out of London every day - but they don't enjoy the three day week most MPs work at Westminster - or the long breaks when Parliament is not in session.
Most MPs travel down to Westminster on a Monday afternoon and back to their constituencies on a Thursday - and as that's only three nights away from home why do they need a £20,000 a year housing allowance?
So the whole thing is madness really.
For a while back MPs were in the public spotlight as never before - and as the MPs' expenses scandal engulfed Westminster they were keen to put their house in order in double quick time.
Now that the heat is off they are trying to recover some of that lost ground - slowly, slowly and bit by bit.
Yet the truth is that MPs should be judged by the same standards as everyone else - by the same standards as the people they claim to represent.
Which is why expenses watchdog should be standing up for the public interest - not the self-serving interests of our MPs.
