There are quite a few things I don't understand with the expenses claims of MP's.
1) How can they claim anything other than their constituency home as their main home? The second home expenses should relate to the fact that they are expected to be in London some of the time. The expense claimed should relate to this. It is clearly wrong to pick low cost accommodation in London as your main home whilst having your actual home funded by the tax payer.
2) People everyday have to commute + 1 hour, yet Outer London MP's can claim for a second home? Get rid of all second home allowances. Make them justify the expense incurred like we all have to in day-to-day business (to our bosses and/or the tax man).
3) The AMOUNTS they are allowed to claim. They seem to be claiming EXPENSES up to TEN TIMES more than some people earn in a year.
4) Aides. They can claim for a parliamentary aide (fine), yet can pay said parliamentary aide +£40k per year and more often than not, said aide is a relative.
Of course, it is only human to attempt to maximise ones own good fortune. However, elected officials profess to have high moral standards and should be held accountable to such claims.
Dave
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