WE are told that no rules have been broken. The rules state that expenses must be reasonable and “wholly and necessarily”

incurred in the performance of MPs’ duties. The Inland Revenue test of this used to be: could someone undertake the duty without incurring the expense?

Surely, most would fail.

Culpability in breach of the rules lies with making the claim – whether paid or not. Many MPs are guilty, including David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg, and condemned by the recent banning of items for which they have claimed – ie, cleaning, etc.

Second homes are a lifestyle choice and not a necessity.

Occasional overnight accommodation might be a necessity, but since the late night sittings of the House were abandoned this would be very much the exception. A schedule of attendance compared to claims might be interesting.

All tax returns state that a false declaration may lead to fines and/or prosecution. Lying to the House is a breach of its rules. How, then, can conflicting statements about second homes fail to breach someone’s rules?

To whom are the spurious claims referred? Who decides?

Who approves? Exactly who has been dispensing such largesse with taxpayers’ money? Names please.

PR Davies, High Coniscliffe, Darlington.

RE the resignation of Michael Martin as Speaker of the House of Commons. I feel he has been made a scapegoat for the misdemeanours of others.

In my opinion, he was correct calling on the police to investigate the source of the MPs’ expenses leak to the Tory mouthpiece, namely The Daily Telegraph, and I am disappointed that the request was not pursued.

Here we have a civil servant, who has signed a declaration of confidentiality, but betrays it by leaking personal details – not only expenses, but bank accounts, addresses, etc – of all MPs and a number of civil servants. Surely a security situation arises with the recipient of such sensitive information subject to scrutiny also.

Bearing in mind the Damian Green Home Office leaks affair, how many more Tory moles will emerge before the next General Election? I repeat what I wrote in a recent letter, not printed, that moles dig holes. David Cameron might just fall into one.

Maurice Baker, Middlestone Moor, Spennymoor, Co Durham.

ON a day when we heard of the 160th death of a British serviceman in Afghanistan we also read of Housing Minister and Hartlepool MP Iain Wright blaming the system for MPs’ failings (Echo, May 23).

How much lower can these people sink in trying to defend their indefensible expenses claims?

The system may be wrong, but – knowingly – they have milked it for all it’s worth and still they haven’t got the integrity to admit it. That’s the sad part of this whole affair.

It’s a sorry day for Britain when we have to hear of our losses in the same press and media as these people. Our service personnel don’t deserve it.

Brian Collins, Spennymoor, Co Durham.

I RECENTLY wrote about the insulting rise of 7p per hour in the national minimum wage. In view of the revelations about MPs’ expenses, it is even more disgraceful. Petrol has just risen by 2p per litre so, together with food price increases, the rise is already wiped out.

JM Gowland, Heighington, near Darlington.

THIS shower of MPs would shame the Eric Pollard character in TV’s Emmerdale. Suddenly, the Monster Raving Loony Party doesn’t seem so outrageous compared with the alternative.

A McKimm, Crook, Co Durham.