MPs’ expenses
Jim Sheridan MP and those “parasites” in parliament
Labour MP Jim Sheridan covered himself in glory this morning by asking why the ‘parasitical press’ is ‘even allowed to come into’ parliament. Westminster watchers will remember the eloquent and… Continue reading
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MPs: We’re underpaid and worried about Christmas
Are MPs paid too little? Quite a few of them seem to think so. Parliamentary expenses watchdog IPSA released the results of a survey today which found 69 per cent… Continue reading
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Maria Miller survives £90,000 expenses claims, for now
Both the former Labour MP Tony McNulty and the present Culture Secretary Maria Miller claimed parliamentary second home expenses for houses in which their respective parents lived. This is in… Continue reading
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Margaret Moran: an MP too depressed for prison
Are you happy that the former Labour MP Margaret Moran, who swindled more than £50,000 from the taxpayer in rogue expenses, will escape a custodial sentence because she is ‘depressed’?… Continue reading
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A black, bloody insurrection of the hard-working, over-taxed and unbenefited
If you want to understand the mood of modern Britain, James Hawes’s novels of middle class fury are not a bad place to start. Hawes’s heroes are middle-aged men, whose… Continue reading
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Two different Laws
Among the vast number of British people who are somewhat surprised to see the disgraced MP David Laws back in government is David’s own father, Tony Laws. Laws jnr was… Continue reading
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Warsi hauled up – but why not Hunt?
It turns out that there is a minister in the Cameron cabinet who can say sorry. Following the second week of Warsi rule breaking revelations, the Tory party co-chairman has… Continue reading
38 CommentsGetting over the expenses scandal
Parliament’s reputation seems to have recovered from its nadir during the expenses scandal. According to the government’s "citizenship survey", the proportion of people trusting parliament fell from 34 per cent… Continue reading
5 CommentsThe danger to a free press
“In Britain, a free press is non-negotiable,” Ivan Lewis has just said – before suggesting ways that Government might, ahem, oversee this freedom. The shadow culture secretary has an idea:… Continue reading
29 CommentsIDS and the renewal of society
Iain Duncan Smith has made two notable media appearances today and his comments will reveal how the government’s plan to fight gangs and lawlessness will unfold. He has just told Sky News… Continue reading
18 CommentsMiliband the hero
Garlands go to the conqueror. The Observer has interviewed Ed Miliband about his response to the News International crisis, and it’s as if Caesar has returned home after crushing the traitor Pompey.… Continue reading
57 CommentsThieves of Westminster becoming more brazen
Yesterday, Keith Vaz received a response to a written question he filed to John Thurso regarding thefts on the parliamentary estate. Having lost an iPad and a laptop from his office, Vaz… Continue reading
21 CommentsLaws calls for unity — but faces trouble
The personal and the political. They mesh to readable effect in David Laws’ interview with the Times (£) this morning, his first since resigning from government last year. There are… Continue reading
8 CommentsRemaking Laws
David Laws has just apologised to the House of Commons in a short statement listened to in sombre silence. Laws stressed that he was glad that the commissioner and the… Continue reading
42 CommentsLaws punished but in the clear
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Sir John Lyon, has delivered his report on David Laws’ expenses claims. The headline is as expected: ‘Mr Laws was guilty of a series of… Continue reading
35 CommentsCameron in new war with his backbenchers
The House is united in loathing of IPSA, which explains why Tory MP Adam Afriyie’s amendment to the Parliamentary Standards Bill 2009 is proving so popular. Afriyie’s aim is ‘to… Continue reading
17 CommentsBreaking Laws
When David Laws resigned from government last year, his return was thought to be only a matter of time. Today, it is looking considerably more indefinite. Not only has Cameron… Continue reading
25 CommentsThe press becomes the story
The power of the press has, almost from nowhere, become one of the defining leitmotifs of this Parliament. Only two years ago, the Telegraph exerted that power to (partially) clean… Continue reading
21 CommentsWelcome revisions to IPSA’s rules
If you want to get an MP going, just ask them what they think of IPSA — the new expenses watchdog. The body is hated: when Cameron joked at PMQs… Continue reading
7 CommentsWho watches the watchmen?
There’s a fuse-meet-flame quality to PoliticsHome’s smart little scoop this morning. Our parliamentarians are already somewhat hacked off with IPSA, the body tasked with overseeing their expenses. So how will… Continue reading
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