'Lump sum expenses plan' for MPs

"MPs could award themselves an automatic lump sum of £23,000 a year to pay for second homes, it is reported."

*With the amount of money for MPs privileges going up and up and more members of parliament claiming expenses for work their family members do for them is getting out of hand. Money for them to spend goes up yet money for the people they govern goes down. It is sickening to hear that MPs can use tax payers money to furnish a SECOND HOME while millions of British people struggle to run just one home. This is both morally and ethically wrong. Do the MPs and government think that we are so happy with cuts to our services and increases in our taxes that we will accept how much of our tax money is spent on them and their harebrained projects. Education, NHS and other important services are being starved of money yet MPs live the life of luxury. How wrong is that?* 

 

 

Date: Tuesday, 27 May 2008 10:13 UK

Source: BBC News

MPs could seek to avoid future expenses criticism by awarding themselves an automatic lump sum of £23,000 a year for second homes, a newspaper says.

According to the Times, the automatic grant will be a key recommendation of a review of MPs' expenses, led by the Speaker Michael Martin.

The move would avoid the need for MPs to submit claims backed by receipts.

A spokeswoman for the Members Estimate Committee said it was too early to specify the report's findings.

There was embarrassment for some MPs when receipts and invoices submitted in support of their claims for the Additional Costs Allowance were released last week after the High Court ruled they could not be exempted from Freedom of Information Act requirements.