Simple ways to end abuse of MPs' expenses system
The MPs' expenses row will doubtless rumble on for some time but it is vital that it leads to a much better and transparent system.
I suggest that the current system should be replaced with one similar to that of Sweden.
In Sweden, second homes in Stockholm for members who live outside the capital are provided by the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) and let to the MPs free of charge.
Their MPs who choose to live in apartments they have found themselves receive a flat 7,000 Krona, the equivalent of under 600 a month, and they cannot claim for improvements to that accommodation.
This system would put a stop to British MPs climbing the property ladder and making huge sums of money at the expense of the taxpayer.
This seems a far more sensible use of taxpayers money than the system in place in this country, which – as we have seen – is wide open to abuse.
It is a sad reflection of society that those elected to run Britain, purportedly for the benefit of its citizens, are only now gaining a conscience after they have been caught with their fingers in the till.
Another proposal is the introduction of the recall system, as exists in
America, so that if electors are
dissatisfied with their MP they can
demand another election.
This won't solve the problems over the greed of MPs getting their snouts in the trough – but it will allow us to do something about it.
The recall system means that if enough voters decide that it's time a politician went, there should be an election to decide.
In California, for example, if 12% of the voters at the previous election sign a petition asking for a new
election then there will be one.
Recall elections would be rare and difficult to organise but won't they put the fear of God into the political classes?
Paul Nuttall, chairman, UKIP
Too late to try and make us feel guilty
In a national newspaper today, I read that some MPs were under so much pressure because of the expenses furore, that the party Whips wouldn't be surprised if there was an attempted suicide among them.
It seems that at least a few member of the Commons were wise enough to recognise that the system was wrong and public-spirited enough not to take advantage of it.
The rest thought they would join this cosy club. They should not now subject us to emotional blackmail. They shoud have been stronger when it mattered.
Now it's too late.
Name and address supplied
Stop speeders at time of offence
As I understand matters, the police have a duty to prevent crime.
If a person is seen committing an
offence, he should surely be stopped.
However, those manning a mobile speed camera do not stop speeding motorists. If the speed is so dangerous why are they not stopped? Are the police doing their duty then?
This is further proof that the cameras are merely a revenue exercise.
Peter Reed, via email
A matter of taste
I notice that junk food and red meat are getting a bad press again, but my opinion of the foods I find the most appetising are not changed by this.
I'd rather have a fry up and chew on juicy meat, than have to face the stuff that veggies eat. It's tasteless and it's soggy. If my name was Oliver Twist, I still wouldn't ask for more.
Ben Warburton, address supplied
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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