THE Daily Telegraph exposé of MPs’ expenses continues and we are all now aware that there have been serious abuses; some instances are clearly fraud and deception.
Opposition leader David Cameron is right to say that criminal prosecutions should now take place. Hopefully, the Metropolitan Police – together with the Crown Prosecution Service and HM Revenue and Customs – will make announcements soon, especially now that a senior political figure has given his support.
Stockton North Labour MP Frank Cook, who tried to reclaim a £5 donation for a Battle of Britain church service, joins the daily entrance of shamed MPs being fed to lions like Christians in a Roman arena.
However, there’s nothing godly about these people, which is why The Daily Telegraph will continue to publish more revelations and we should be grateful that we live in a country with a free press.
Acres of letters from an angry public have appeared in national and local newspapers, but after more than three weeks it’s time for affirmative action over this.
Meanwhile, clearly there needs to be a mechanism in place to impeach or recall MPs who have acted wrongly and they should not be allowed to continue drawing their salaries until the next General Election.
Ian Sadler, Darlington.
ON Sunday, Gordon Brown was at it again, telling the nation he is going to clean up politics once and for all by introducing a binding code of conduct for MPs.
Surely the voter should already have people standing for election who live their lives in a manner that doesn’t need a written code of conduct just because they have been elected to govern the country.
If the present political parties are going to draw up this code of conduct without consulting a cross-section of the nation all we will get is the present system with all the loopholes closed so that the public can’t find out what and for how much MPs are claiming.
How can the public have faith in people – and trust them to reform the expenses system – who attempt to claim back the cost of a church offering at a Battle of Britain service?
Mr Brown’s the type of person who charges pensioners for dental treatment while at the same time claiming from the same pensioners his subscriptions for Sky TV rental.
Peter Dolan, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham.
SO, after the taxpayer paying some MPs to fiddle their expenses, we now have to pay for their resettlement when they leave Parliament. What the hell is all that about?
No one has helped me after losing my job, least of all the Government. I got Jobseeker’s Allowance of £60.50 for six months, after working 40, yes 40 years, and they are going to pocket thousands. I have a better idea. Let’s resettle all those who have used our money to feather their own nests in a nice, comfy establishment (so I’ve been told) known as Durham Prison.
It may cost us a bob or two, but just think of the satisfaction we, the taxpayers, will finally get.
Lawrence A McGowan, Sherburn Village, Durham.
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