M.P's Expenses Row

[Smeee]

I know this is a predominantly North American forum but there's a fair few Brits about so I thought it might be interesting to hear some views on it (UK resident or not).

A few links (more may appear) for those unaware of the situation or want to learn more:

The Telegraph's now infamous "A-Z".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5293320/MPs-shop-till-they-drop.html

A BBC News Q& A on the subject.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7840678.stm

Lord Foulkes rips into a BBC News presenter on air.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8045371.stm

Stephen Fry's view on the situation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8045040.stm

[Blake Solomon]

i'm surprised she admitted her pay, but i guess she really didn't have a choice.

[secretsociety92]

I think this is totally not right. There are people in this country who can't afford to keep their houses because of the economy at the moment and then you have this lot spending thousands of pounds (of our money) on swimming pools, cleaners, gardeners etc. Plus they are saying it is nothing illegal, well yeah but only because you made it so it wouldn't be.

[goodarmcindy]

I thought it was brilliant when the peer ripped into the newsreader. The newsreaders are massively overpaid, but at least she had the journalistic instinct to question him. Most of the newsreaders are sycophantic and useless in interviews. That being said, expenses are always going to be a thorny issue. You need to suitably compensate people for becoming an MP otherwise the opportunity for those who aren't already rich to become MPs is massively reduced. I think there does need to be reform though, all this is doing is reducing faith in the Westminster system close to local and EU elections (which had notoriously low turnout) and an upcoming general election. We don't need to give people any more reasons to be disillusioned with British politics and not turn up to vote.

[SpacePunk]

The Local and European Elections are gonna be very interesting.