by Ben Hughes

Created on: May 15, 2009

How brave is the Daily Telegraph for publishing details of MPs expenses for us all to see? But - much, much more than this - how brave were those MPs for claiming literally hundreds of thousands of pounds between them for their own personal gain?

What's astounding about the whole story is that it's still emerging like some gruesome horror movie when the hero we've been following actually turns out to be the villain.

The story so far: Parliament's Green Book sets out the guidelines for MPs to claim allowances; many MPs have said that the system needs to be overhauled, but at the same time many have continued to claim for outrageous things; and all at the expense of the taxpayer.

Each day since around the beginning of May 2009, a new scandal has hit the headlines, so far resulting in the casualties of three MPs. Just one of these stories could ordinarily have run for a week or more, but the scale of the fraud has hit both Parliament and the British public beyond imagination.

So what do these expenses claims include? So far, MP "expenses" include the cleaning of a moat around a property; interior design at a cost of over 10,000; failure to pay capital gains tax; claims for dog food; cleaners and gardeners totalling thousands of pounds per claim; a plasma TV and massage chair totally nearly 2,000; and mortgage payments for a mortgage which had been paid off 18 months previously. One MP has already pledged to pay back nearly 42,000 alone.

The thing that makes this even more sickening for the British public is that these MPs were elected into a position of trust, which they have clearly abused. Some even refuse to admit they have cheated the system, instead insisting they have made claims according to the rules in The Green Book, yet having total disregard for moral integrity.

New expenses claims are coming to light daily and the police are investigating claims of fraud made by The Taxpayer's Alliance, who have vowed private prosecutions if the police don't act. And why not? The MPs, some of whom are, or have been, cabinet ministers, know full well their moral obligations and blaming the rule book isn't good enough to help them escape. If an ordinary employee was making false claims from their organisation, it would be a sackable offence, so why not for those leading the country? The example they set can be questionable at times but this has rocked Parliament and the reputation of MPs to the core. There are no excuses for these people to make such dramatic errors on such a large and widespread scale, or for so many to still try to evade the issue.

At a time when the ordinary person is being reminded of the credit crunch and the need for greater efficiency, there is no justification for these people using the taxpayer's money to redecorate homes and maintain luxurious lifestyles at our expense. When thousands are losing their jobs, those who make the rules are continuing to benefit.

The majority of MPs seem, at the moment, to risk being dragged down by the minority, but as each day goes by there are more revelations. Until this crisis is dealt with properly and a new system is set up with greater transparency, greater accountability and more emphasis on the MPs role of serving than of being served, it will be difficult to restore public confidence.

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