It appears that a number of MP’s are trying to use the murder of Sir David Amess as an excuse for removing details about their expenses from public view.
Guido Fawkes said:
MPs have been sent a letter by the expenses body IPSA, informing them that as a result of Sir David Amess’s death they are to shortly begin redacting swathes of information being published about MPs’ expenses claims. The letter, sent to Guido, cites “some Members” who since last Friday had voiced concerns about the information being published on travel and constituency surgery venue hire.
Ahead of a wider review – which may include an attack on the information journalists can elicit via FoIs – IPSA announces they are immediately:
“postponing the publication of expenditure information due in November and temporarily removing descriptive detail from previously published claims on our website whilst the review is underway.”
This takes us back to the bad old days of pre 2009 when MP’s expenses were hidden from public view and MP’s filled their boots with public money for everything from furnishing for second homes to duck houses. This is in my opinion no way to increase trust or respect for Parliamentarians. It will do nothing to make MP’s any more popular than they are and might even increase disrespect and disgust at how our Parliament works.
I think the answer is yes.
The latest Labour photo-op on evil bosses (on fire and re-hire – something that deserves censure I agree) with an evil boss the inestimable Claudia Webbe and an anti-Semite (one J.Corbyn) and both suspended from the party very much in the ranks.
Really looks like poor old Keir is winning his battles against bullying and anti-Semitism does it not?
(See: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/labour-mps-pose-with-convicted-harasser )
To include Webbe in this demo and this meeting not only damages the image of the Labour Party but also poisons the debate about and draws attention away from the need to deal with the abusive fire and rehire system.
To be honest I think that boat had already sailed. Many of us do actually despise them and with good reason. It seems that the poor dears are struggling to live on 82,000 pounds a year plus expenses but the UK pensioners can starve on one tenth of that and pay their own expenses. They can charge the new low carbon vehicle taxes to expenses. They eat and drink in restaurants subsided by those earning far less than they do. The list is endless and do they really think we have forgotten or forgiven the expenses scandals? All animals may be equal but trust me no animal is more equal than an MP.