MPs Under Pressure To Come Clean Over Expenses
Even though there have been moves over the last few months to reduce the sour taste left by the number and amount of expenses to which MPs are eligible, a number of high profile MPs are set to face the Commons Audit committee with speculation that censorships may be on the cards for some. Interestingly, the make up of those due to be investigated is actually a cross party group showing that expense claims are running rife in all of the UK’s political parties represented in the commons.
A report into how expenses are shared out amongst MPs shows that the average MP will claim over £135,000 a year. While many of these expenses are items which would be acceptable in traditional business life, many people seem to be concerned at the lack of proof required. There is also the matter of second home expenses which allow MPs to cover interest payments from the tax payer’s purse, while retaining all of the profit if the property is ever sold.
The latest high profile MPs to hit the headlines are Ed Balls and his partner Yvette Cooper with controversy over their second home expenses. While they are not alone, this case in particular, coming as it does when the voting public are after a prosecution, could prove very interesting.
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