Medway MP's to cash in?

(Press cutting from 2009: Not related to Medway MPs)

This blog has been waiting a few days to see if any of our newly minted Medway Tory MPs would respond to the quietly released IPSA announcement last week, which will allow our MPs to claim additional allowances on children travelling by train, office ‘related’ expenses and on second-home rental.

A small part expected them to make some press statement or other, complaining about the unfortunate situation of extra cash, which was necessary to subsidise their ever-so-hard four day a week sitting in the House, coupled with subsidized alco-pops on the Commons veranda and food in the exclusive fast food joints that can be found within the hallowed halls of Westminster.

It’s a tough old gig this MP lark.

Alas, expectations have been dashed. Not one tweet, letter, word or indeed smoke signal from the merry band of Medway MPs.

It is almost as if, ssshh, whisper it, they had not noticed that they were due to benefit.

For those of you who don’t know, and that is probably a number, IPSA was established to curtail greed by MPs who took advantage of the pre-existing system for financial gain.

It has since been attacked from pillar-to-post by mostly Tory MPs for daring to squeeze elected MPs, of all persuasions, by introducing a very tight control of the public purse, or in business terms, some basic financial control and audit. It was a welcome development for the public who incidentally earn way below the average MPs salary of £66,000, who perceived all MPs, unfairly, of being on the take.

As a response to this scandal, our own MPs (then mere PPCs) signed a Clean Campaign pledge which committed to full transparency on expenses.

We will therefore expect them to provide full costings of any second home rental and other costs incurred from their offices.

Not one Medway MP needs rental on a second-home because they live within a reasonable commuting distance from London

This blogger works in the private sector; and this type of subsidy smells bad when employers and employees are struggling to balance the books.

The public do not like it. Be rest assured.

It is time our MPs not only published their constituency figures but walk the walk on expenses. They need to push back and refuse the extra cash, because actually, their constituents demand it.

We have seen nothing from any of our MPs on pushing back for less cash from IPSA.

A bad week for democracy hidden behind the budget. Pay perks it seems can be curtailed from everyone else but the MPs.

Yes, that is me and you.