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Scrap the expenses system, urges DUP
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
In what will likely be seen as a damage limitation exercise, the DUP has proposed scrapping the present House of Commons expenses system and insisted no MP should receive “a single penny” beyond their salaries.
Attempting to assuage public anger over ongoing revelations on expenses, the party said MPs’ constituency offices and equipment, staff, utility bills and rent or mortgage payments as well as the £10,000 members’ communication allowance would be dealt with and paid directly by the Commons rather than MPs.
The move came as further disclosures involving Northern Ireland MPs were anticipated. The Daily Telegraph has already revealed Peter and Iris Robinson claimed £30,000 for food and £160,000 in mortgage interest payments for their London apartment over a four-year period.
After pledging to publish final copies of the claims of all its nine MPs online, the party has published a paper called A Better Way which proposes:
l no claims for food, furnishings or household goods;
l a Central Procurement Division set up at Westminster;
l independent oversight of the Westminster fees office.
l no pecuniary benefit from the taxpayer contribution for mortgage interest payments on London properties following the resale of a property.
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Comments
21 Comments
"Scrap the expenses system, urges DUP" and save us from our own greed!
Posted by Not DUPed | 19.05.09, 18:59 GMT
Ulysees
after security consideration are taken into account employment shoul dbe taken on merit
Posted by Grace A | 19.05.09, 16:01 GMT
Grace A, congratulations for making a statement that makes sense for a change. No politicians should be allowed to exclusively employ family members. Equality for all!
Posted by Ulysses31 | 19.05.09, 15:37 GMT
Grace A - are you an MEP in disguise, shockingly quick to defend these chancers each and every time.
Posted by MiHe | 19.05.09, 15:06 GMT
What is the difference between MPs claiming directly,and the Commons paying their expenses directly? It is the same old smoke and mirrors act. The DUP and Sinn Fein have done very nicely(thankyou) ,and will continue to do so with the taxpayers' money!
Posted by RMS | 19.05.09, 13:54 GMT
Thats a hollow argument Stephen E - obviously in a normal work place your argument would hold water...
however in politics it's all about who you can trust - there are no doubt some great political strategists out there - particularly in the blogging fraternity - however if one of them applied to be Peter Robinson's assistant - how could Robinson hire him to devise strategies and further his aims and objectives if he didn't fully trust him...
Posted by Gareth | 19.05.09, 13:00 GMT
What are the other DUP MPS hiding that they are scurrying this plan into action. If they want to be open publish their claims if not let the self rightous hypocrites say nothing as they have been discovered to be liars and thiefs who have stole money from the people to feather their own nests.
Posted by john | 19.05.09, 12:29 GMT
Too late DUP, you have already been busted!
Posted by Mags | 19.05.09, 12:14 GMT
Stephen E,
Presumably you will call on MEPs who employ family to end that practice too? (mind you, with only 3 weeks left it's hardly worth while)!!
Posted by Grace A | 19.05.09, 11:42 GMT
To get the REAL opinion from the DUP and their expenses listen to Gregory Campbell on Monday's Stephen Nolan show.
He reduced the debate to childish bickering. It angered me they are just back tracking.
I will never vote DUP again - only SF have shown themselves to have some kind of credibility - but they should not be claiming any expenses !!
Politics is changing - out with the DUP and their family members - nobody should get rich representing the people
Posted by Jon | 19.05.09, 11:41 GMT
Why not just enforce a claims policy based on actual need? That might solve this whole issue, and we could get all of the money already taken pumped back into the system, so our pensions are now worth something again!
Posted by moneymouth77 | 19.05.09, 10:23 GMT
Strange, I never seem them taking this sort of stance a month ago. Like everyone, they are trying to wriggle themselves free from from the condemnation of the taxpayer.
I agree with Sean. If they are of the opinion they are now, why did they make the claims in the first place and, as of now, why don't they cease claiming anything voluntarily.
Posted by Ulysses31 | 19.05.09, 10:14 GMT
Geat real Robbie! See it all for what it is, greed beyond belief. Scrap the lot of them and start again.
Posted by P Crowson | 19.05.09, 10:08 GMT
MP's should just get subsistence like any other government workers & a sensible meal allowance - end of story.
Posted by Stephens | 19.05.09, 10:03 GMT
Scrap the DUP nepotistic system instead. Vote these people out of Westminster entirely. Haven't the public suffered enough from a party with a long tail of broken promises?
More spin spin spin from Dundela Avenue.
Posted by Stephen E | 19.05.09, 09:59 GMT
Ok Robbie - I'll believe it's more than mere words when they refund the £30,000 food and £160,000 mortgage interest bills.
Posted by Anne | 19.05.09, 09:59 GMT
Very noble. But it seems like damage limitation to me. I many MPs would have been happy enough milking the tax payers for years to come if this scandal hadnt seen the light of day. Something tells me if the spotlight hadnt been shone on them and others it wouldnt have bothered their consiences one iota for claiming ridiculous amounts of money for food or whatever else.
Posted by Oooops Caught Out. | 19.05.09, 09:53 GMT
Very impressed by the DUP proposals. They go further than any other party.
It seems they really want to make chnage and restore confidence in the system.
Posted by Robbie | 19.05.09, 09:29 GMT
It is just silly posturing by the DUP as they know it will never happen. If they were serious they would just quit using the system voluntarily
Posted by Sean | 19.05.09, 09:22 GMT
after the robinsons discloseures this is a party which is morally bankrupt
Posted by hugh glenn | 19.05.09, 06:55 GMT
21 Comments