Every week Kevin publishes his very own “Kev’s Column” online. This week he takes a look at the issue of MPs' expenses that has again been in the news:
Five years ago the Daily Telegraph ran what was the biggest scoop of British Press History and a story that literally changed the way our nation is run.
The MPs' expenses scandal of 2009 saw a light shone on items that those involved thought would be kept private for ever. The irony of Parliament trying to keep its own expenses system secret was not lost on those in local government who had always been required to publish any claims made, under legislation passed by MP’s.
Each evening the television news channels would pour over the latest Daily Telegraph front page, one of the few remaining broadsheets, as the details of claims for Duckhouses, Bell Towers, Moats and Horse Manure were published. The journalists involved later wrote a book “No Expenses Spared” which gives a real insight into the work they did to reveal the story and their perspective on the political earthquake it caused.
Reforms were brought into the expenses system and it was hoped further scandals would be avoided. Yet this week expenses have been back in the headlines due to the case of Maria Miller, the Culture Secretary who had to resign after being required to make an apology to the House of Commons.
The scandals and incidents of recent years have understandably eroded peoples trust in the political system. I am not going to pretend in this column that any party has a monopoly of virtue or sin on this issue with MPs, Lords and MEPs from across the political spectrum facing investigation and even criminal cases about expenses issues. Those who try to blame other parties or score political points appear oblivious to the fact that the public view is mostly to blame all involved in Westminster politics.
My focus is to be clear what I would do as the bay's MP in terms of these issues and the commitments I have made are set out below:
1. No employment of relatives - I do not believe employing anyone you are related to on parliamentary business is appropriate or effective in terms of getting work done.
2. No claims for First Class rail travel. - Self-explanatory, the taxpayer should not fund the additional cost of First Class or for items any employee would be expected to pay for themselves in a typical job, e.g my lunch or evening meal.
3. Donating the pay rise proposed by IPSA to local Charities - No one is forcing this on MPs and you can read my full views on the matter here: http://www.kevinjfoster.com/news/kevs-column-mp-pay-rise
4. My main home will always be in the bay - I will only claim expenses for the costs of being in London when necessary for parliamentary business. I will pay for my home in the bay out of my salary like everyone else does. If I did move home within the bay the costs would be borne solely by myself, not the taxpayer.
5. Open Book Expenses – Total transparency is the best way to keep things under control, no matter what system for overseeing them is created at Westminster.
Any claim I submit will be available for public inspection at my office in the bay, as well as online, with only the most personal details, such as my bank account number, redacted. My Community Campaign Centre, 201 Torbay, in Union Street, Torre is an open shop front, not a hidden office. A folder of all claims would be available for immediate inspection by any constituent who wants to see it, along with free of charge photocopying facilities if there is something you wish to take away with you for further inspection/consideration.
As the election approaches next year I hope other candidates will make the same commitments as I have. If not then the public will have a legitimate reason to ask why not.
Finally the fact expenses are again dominating the headlines re-opens the case for what could be the ultimate solution. Namely Parliament owing property and providing it, hall of residence style, to MPs who cannot reasonably commute from their constituency to London each day.
It is not a solution that could happen overnight, but it would remove much of the administration involved in expenses and allow the taxpayer to benefit from any gain in property values. It would also save new MPs, most of whom do not live in London before being elected, from having to spend the first weeks finding a place to stay, rather than getting the job done. The only expenses left would be for travel, which can be based on receipts or mileage at the standard rate set by HMRC.
Many Ministers are already housed in properties linked to their job, most famously the Prime Minister at No 10, it would now seem sensible to look at this for MPs more widely to end the “expenses” issues once and for all.