As details of MPs? expense claims were exposed to the public over the last two weeks, the UK has found itself engulfed in the stink of a big-time political scandal. Some say it?s the worst since the 1920s, when the PM was found selling honours. But, with the speaker of the House of Commons?Michael Martins?now having been forced to step down because of his indifference to fixing Westminster?s slapdash outlays, others are counting back many more centuries. Last time a Speaker was ejected was in 1695, when Sir John Trevor was found guilty of accepting a bribe. Notwithstanding a great historical lag, today?s Speaker too is going down to the cry of betrayal.
He is basically taking the hit for a bigger political tribe, which was expressing outrage over bankers? inflated bonuses till just a couple of weeks ago, and now stands accused of inflated claims itself.
Dogfood and toilet brushes, stable lights and sacks of horse manure, ginger crinkle biscuits and pints of milk, antique rugs and ironing boards, bus tickets and bed-and-breakfasts, classic cars? upkeep and sofa upholstering fees, eyeliners and tooth flossers?UK lawmakers have been billing taxpayers for all this and more. The claims range from 29 pence dusters to 100,000 pounds in mortgage payment.
Sympathisers say British politicians are less than richly remunerated by international standards and, over time, their earnings have fallen far behind others?. Instead of going public with the need for reappraisal, they have been treating expenses as a legitimate way of topping up income. Indeed, one MP after another has told hecklers that he had acted entirely within the rules.
Unfortunately for them, understanding is in short supply these days. On the one hand, with UK repossessions by mortgage lenders having jumped by 51% in the first quarter from a year earlier, the recession continues to tighten its grip on the British masses. On the other hand, the upper classes could not be unhappier with Gordon Brown?s administration since it has raised the top tax rate to 50%.
Result: the peerage that former Speakers could count on post-retirement is slipping away from Martins. And as fast as calls for an early general election build up, that quickly do Brown?s comeback chances slip away.
?renuka.bisht@expressindia.com
