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MPs ‘to quit’ over mortgage expenses ban
The Mole: Rules to stop MPs claiming for non–existent mortgages have upset beleaguered members, says our Westminster insider
Despite weeks of public vilification over their expenses, it appears some MPs still don't get it and are threatening to revolt over the latest attempt to force them to come clean on their mortgage claims.
In what could turn out to be a dramatic case of biting off their noses to spite their faces, rebellious backbenchers on both sides of the Commons have warned they would rather quit and force by-elections than comply with the latest ruling.
The head of the Commons Fees Office, Andrew Walker, has written to MPs telling them if they are claiming back mortgage interest on second homes on expenses they must tell him in writing the full terms of the mortgage agreement, that the claims are for interest only and that they are claiming the correct amount. If they fail to comply by the end of the month, the payments will stop in August.
The letter is simply enforcing the new rules agreed by party leaders after the expenses scandal revealed some MPs were claiming for mortgages they no longer had or for properties being let out. But it has infuriated a number of backbenchers who are said to be thinking of refusing to comply and standing down from parliament in protest.
That would certainly give their constituents the chance to express their views over how they have behaved, with the real danger they are booted out of their seats as punishment.
There were plenty of similar threats before the expenses scandal erupted in full earlier in the year. In the end the full power of the public anger at the way MPs were exploiting the system persuaded the majority of them to think again.
There's no doubt that many MPs feel badly bruised, and even hard done by over the expenses row. Some have complained about "summary justice" and "kangaroo courts".
But the public are in no mood to hear them complaining and so party leaders will not be losing any sleep over these latest threats. After all, any MP forcing a by-election on the basis that they don't like the new rules not only risks losing their seat and the backing of their party but would also be throwing away a few more months of their MPs' salary and expenses. ·
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Former US Presidential candidate Ross Perot, referring to corruption and complacency in Congress and on Capitol Hill, had a nice little homespun phrase for what is required here. 'We godda clean out the barn'. It has been proven that there is a political party, as yet untainted by these ongoing scandals, who posess such appealing policies, that when presented with them, around 85% of people agree that if carried out and implemented as a manifesto, they would work for the country. They are in full support of this party until turning over the paper and seeing that the policies belong to the British National Party, their resolve to vote for them starts to falter.
It is sadly self-destructive that most British people choose either to be psychologically intimidated into apathy re-enforcing inaction , or incorrectly choose to believe without personal research, that the BNP, who are systematically demonised by the establishment politicians and their media allies for obvious self-protective reasons, are Nazi's, fascists and racists. These accusations are false, and as for fascism, which is forcing your political will on people without a mandate, as with uncontrolled mass immigration when there are not enough jobs to go around, illegal wars, no choice on the Lisbon Treaty, no vote on whether to remain in the EU, billions of pounds in foreign aid given away while the country sinks further into financial chaos, the BNP would give people what they wanted, which is namely a free choice. How is this racist fascist or nazi?
No, many of them really don't get it. Comes from having thie noses in the trough for far too long. Let them resign, let them have a byelection. A complete clearout is what's needed, and a new lot preferably not party based but independents willing and eager to represent their voters, rather than obeying party whips and their own venal desires.
Time for the gravy train to be retired to the sidings.
Time for a general election when the voter will decide if they are fit to be returned - - - meanwhile - -obey the rules!