|
MPs' EXPENSES 'Within the rules'
Whichever way you look at the MPs' expenses scandal, it's a pretty rum do. They are paying backing thousands of pounds, but most of them who are doing so steadfastly maintain that what they did was 'within the rules'. Well, whatever the Fees Office says, whatever the MPs were told, these are the rules they say they were within: Claims must only be made for expenditure that it was necessary for a member to incur to ensure that he or she could properly perform his or her parliamentary duties. Members must ensure that claims do not give rise to … an improper financial benefit to themselves. Members should avoid purchases which would be seen as extravagant or luxurious. Members are committed to openness about what expenditure has been incurred and for what purposes. Claims should be ABOVE REPROACH. (My capitals.) And nothing about flipping.
|
