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Email Jury

Forgive MPs and forget?— no chance

By Steve Finan

IF anyone thought the MPs’ expenses scandal had blown over, think again. 

Last week, half of our MPs were told to repay more than £1 million in expenses claims, and three MPs and a Lord are to be prosecuted. 

We asked our email jury if they thought this was enough to put the House of Commons in order, and whether it would come back to haunt our politicians at the general election.

We received a storm of responses.

And our readers are speaking almost with one voice on this issue. They are still angry. Very angry.

David Meiklejohn, of Bishopton, was typical of the mood. 

Long memory

He said, “The general public has a long memory when it comes to being taken for a ride. How dare an MP think it’s OK to take money from expenses and put it towards a duck house or a plasma TV? It’s our money, they have no right to spend it on things most people look upon as luxury items.”

Mike Mold, of Wallingford, Oxfordshire, agreed. “Frankly, more of them should have been prosecuted. 

“Outside the bubble of Westminster if anyone had the audacity to fiddle their expenses or defrauded employers they’d be sacked and prosecuted for theft. And rightly so. The amount of money involved should be immaterial.”

John Winterton, of Angus, said, “It would be beyond belief if the proposed prosecutions and the appalling publicity arising from the scandal did not act as a serious wake-up call to the majority of MPs.”

Johnette Driver responded all the way from Albany, West Australia, saying, “Electors are hurting and they will remember this reckless spending.”

Gerry Parker, of Doncaster, was definite in his answer. “No, this is nowhere near enough to put the House of Commons in order. This episode brought the governmental system of this country into disrepute. It’s wider than just the expenses issue, it’s about trusting the people we have chosen to run the country on our behalf. 

“Will it come back to haunt them at the election? — Oh I hope so, I really do.”

Woolly

Graeme Thomson, of Torrance, Glasgow, didn’t think prosecuting four people was right. “To pick out a few for prosecution is wrong. You either prosecute them all or not at all. I think the main problem is that the system let these characters exploit the woolly guidelines.”

Peter Forsyth, of Insch, identified a far-reaching problem with the whole political system. “There are too many career politicians who know nothing in life apart from student politics, political researcher then MP. It needs people with real life experience to make a difference.”

Joan Hordon, of Newcastle, sounded a further warning. “If MPs invoke the old law which says they’re above prosecution from laws the rest us must obey, then there will be further uproar.”

Joy Innes-Grieg of, Roslin, Midlothian, had a bright idea. “Why not use the Olympic Village in London after the Games in 2012 as accommodation for MPs and their staffs? Then there will be no need for second home expenses.”

Finlay Noble, of Fraserburgh, hopes lessons have been learned. “Surely rules will now be firmly in place to allow MPs to claim expenses in the knowledge that they are within the guidelines and no repeat of this can happen.”

Richard McLachlan, of Troon, had a modicum of sympathy for the four who are to be prosecuted, saying, “We now appear to have a witch hunt.” But Richard followed this up by stating, “Why are these four prosecuted if no action is being taken against the rest?”

Lessons 

Mike Jeffries, of Blairgowrie, was one of the few who could look at the situation in a more optimistic light, saying, “Both Houses will now be under the scrutiny of a media microscope, I believe the public should now begin to feel reassured that the issue is being dealt with. It’s highly unlikely ever to be repeated. Whichever party can put over this message to the public with most conviction will win the election.”

Speaking of the election, Kev Koslowski-Smith, of Huntingdon, was first to identify what might turn out to be a consequence of the scandal. “I won’t now vote for any of the big three. What scares me, though, is how many people will now vote far right”.

His fears were echoed by Major Bob Ritchie of Livingston. “It will be unfortunate if people choose to show their disgust and vote for smaller parties, i.e. UKIP or BNP. This will not be a true reflection of what they really think.”

Mike Zeelie, of South Shields, was of a similar mind. “I think we should be wary of extreme groups adopting a respectable facade in light of the expenses scandal, and so for me the mainstream parties, despite the faults of their members, remain a better bet.”

Low turnout

Robert Farmer, of Aberdeen, said, “I believe it will result in a low turnout. Why else are they discussing a lower voting age?” Stuart Mitchell, of Driffield, E. Yorks, said, “I may not even vote at the general election.”

Linlithgow’s Lorna Johnston sounded a note that all prospective MPs should listen to. “Woe betide them in the next election because we, the electorate, will be watching.”

Mavis Paterson, of Prestatyn, had a loud and clear message. “I will vote for the party which has the strictest control on these allowances.”

Gavin Elder, of Peterhead, was singing from the same hymn sheet. “Any MP who has done wrong in Aberdeenshire is certain not to get a vote from me.”

The last word goes to pensioner Allan Porterfield, of Jedburgh, who used the wisdom of his years to send this commonsense message, “If you take a job you have to live on the money you get, you can’t claim for this, that and the other.”

Politicians . . . are you listening?