Expensive mistake

The disconnect between the public and its elected representatives continues with the news this morning that MPs are considering doing away with the need to provide any receipts at all when claiming expenses in respect of second homes.  The Members Estimate Committee is apparently considering awarding a lump sum of £23,000 as an automatic grant to MPs each year instead. 

 MPs completely misunderstand the public mood if they think that this will wash.  They need to move towards greater transparency and accountability, not further away.   It may be poor judgement on the part of some MPs to think that reasonable expenses should include thousands for sprucing up the garden or installing a mock-Tudor gable but it is sheer madness to think that their best option now is to seek to hide future expenses entirely.

 

Ex-Bristol Uni student named press chief for London 2012

Jayne Pearce, a member of the first Advanced Sports squad at Bristol University before graduating in 1986, has been appointed to head the media operation at the 2012 London Olympics.

http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2008/212017945344.html