tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12192704.post1955081901593899930..comments2009-05-26T14:59:06.810ZPaul Windonoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12192704.post-16270033819256312932009-05-26T14:59:06.810Z2009-05-26T14:59:06.810ZRe your comments over "the system", I think the other complicated aspect of this situation is that the system of allowances (cf. expenses as an emotive word) was sometimes seen by MPs as compensation for the fact that governments through the years have generally voted not to award MPs payrises. <br /><br />It has been said that they were encouraged to claim as much as they wanted for whatever (be it mortgages or duck houses) becuase the implication was that the allowances money was 'their money' in the same as their pay was 'their money' (rather than taxpayers' dosh). <br /><br />This, to me, puts a different spin on the extent to which we see our MPs as knowingly stealing from the public, or perhaps claiming what they believed they were entitled to.<br /><br />This doesn't make it right of course. The range of claims that we can all read about suggests that this notion of pay compensation was not universally accepted or applied; there are noticeable differences between the appropriate, inappropriate and outrageous claimants, which should be dealt with. <br /><br />I think who ever has to sort all this out will need to balance the flushing out of the unhealthy practices that lead to these negative behaviours whilst recognising that our MPs do a damn hard job and should be appropriately remunerated for this - a tough one which I'm not sure is going to be made any easier by the Telegraph drip-feeding us these stories. I'd imagine that proposing that we give our MPs more money as a result of this wouldn't to go down too well with the general public!<br /><br />I think in the end all this means is that I can't really feel any anger or disgust towards MPs over this; I tend to end up feeling sorry for them more than anything else.<br /><br /><br />Or we could just sack the lot of 'em...Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04150825889883655525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12192704.post-23154378711426363572009-05-26T11:57:25.292Z2009-05-26T11:57:25.292ZIt seems that LICC have once again said what I was "trying to say" far more wisely and succinctly than I ever could... <A HREF="http://www.licc.org.uk/engaging-with-culture/connecting-with-culture/politics/our-commons-lot-853" REL="nofollow">Read it here...</A>Paul Windohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15977872549987795005noreply@blogger.com