The MPs Expenses Scandal
After nearly three years of fighting the release of information under the Freedom of Information act the day has finally arrived. Despite a last ditch attempt to block the release of MPs expenses, at a cost of over £100,000 to the taxpayer, we finally have sight of how taxpayers money is being spent. So how does it all look?
While we see that the vast majority of MPs have been claiming interest on mortgages for their second homes, there are many more weird and wonderful ways in which they have been spending our money. Kitchen repairs on second homes run into thousands of pounds for many MPs, Sky Subscriptions are also common and one multi-millionaire MP was even claiming £90 each time her windows were cleaned!
All in all it looks as though while the UK population has been struggling with increasing household bills, ever higher food prices and escalating fuel costs the MPs have not been feeling the pinch. Are there any other places of employment which would allow you to claim hundreds of pounds a week in eating expenses, pass the bill for gardening work to the taxpayer and allow employees to decorate their homes at employer expenses and keep the proceeds when they sell the property?
There have been few cross party scandals in the Houses of Parliament for some time but this is one which brings all MPs into the spotlight. Now we know why so many were scared that the information would be released to the electorate, why they spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers money protecting themselves and why they are so desperate to hang onto their seats.
As more and more Labour MPs face the possibility of losing their seats at the next general election perhaps it is now easier to understand why they are all so happy to stab each other in the back and look after number one.
Share this..
Related stories
FSA to review the UK mortgage market in the autumn
As a result of a Treasury select committee report into the UK mortgage market it looks as though the FSA (Financial Services Authority) is set to perform an in-depth investigation into the sector in autumn 2009. Amid claims that those in mortgage arrears have been charged disproportionately high fees in relation to advice, assistance and ultimately late payment of their mortgage repayments, we cou...
Read MoreReduction in base rate brings savers into the area of financial difficulties
Over the last few weeks as we have seen base rates fall substantially in UK it seems as though the forgotten millions who actually have savings are set to suffer in the short to medium term. Again, as we have covered on a number of occasions, many people in the UK who have significant savings which they use to finance their lifestyles although for many this particular choice is proving more and mo...
Read MoreIs it time to consider a tracker mortgage?
While all the talk in the UK mortgage market has been of fixed-rate offers there is a growing feeling that tracker mortgages, linked to UK base rates, could be way ahead for the future. The only proviso regarding the success of tracker mortgages over fixed-rate mortgages is the necessity for UK base rates to remain low for the foreseeable future. Despite a general opinion that UK interest rates wi...
Read MoreAlistair Darling To Be Advised Not To Follow US Mortgage Route
After commissioning former HBOS chairman Sir James Crosby to look into ways of protecting and rebuilding the UK mortgage market it seems as though Alistair Darling will be advised not to go down the US route of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two US mortgage agencies which handle the vast majority of US home loans.
It has been reported that the two US agencies are involved in packagin...
John Healey and his controversial comment on repossession
John Healey, the UK government's Housing Minister, has today courted controversy with a suggestion that repossession is the "best thing" for some struggling homeowners. This comes on the day when repossessions in the UK were reported to have hit a 14 year high during 2009 and are set to get worse in 2010. While ultimately, for those in deep financial trouble there may well be few options other tha...
Read More