November 4: MPs don their hairshirts and bite the bulllet
MPs appear, on the whole, to be resigned to the fact that
proposals to tighten up on their expenses and allowances will have
to be accepted pretty much in their entirety.
Of those Kent MPs of both parties I’ve managed
to speak to so far, most think Sir Christopher
Kelly’s committee has come up with a reasonably
well-balanced package – notwithstanding the likes of Thanet North
MP Roger Gale, who remains deeply unhappy about the ban on MPs’
employing spouses and relatives.
Kent MPs react to
Kelly's reforms of their expenses>>>
Unfortunately for him, I don’t detect much
public sympathy for those MPs who do employ their wives or
relatives in either the Commons or their constituencies.
While many may do a good job and provide
relatively good value for money, the idea that you can give jobs to
family members without following the personnel protocols and
employment legislation that every other employer has to abide by is
simply anachronistic and out-dated.
The phrase – or variations on it - “we’ve got
to bite the bullet” – has been uttered by quite a few MPs, which
does appear to suggest most will back the recommendations even if
they harbour certain private reservations.
Among them is Canterbury MP Julian
Brazier, who faces having to sack his wife Kate after 22
years during which she has worked as his constituency secretary.
Others affected by the ban are Gillingham's Paul Clark.
Kelly has been quite shrewd, sweetening the
pill a touch by saying that the pay and pensions of MPs should now
be dealt with by IPSA – the independent body that will regulate
expenses and allowances and allowing a fairly lengthy transitional
period for certain aspects to come in.
The most interesting comment from Sir Christopher was his
warning that MPs should not, as time passes, try to distance
themselves from a commitment to implement reforms, saying:
“The damage that has been done by what has
been revealed about past malpractice and about the culture that
goes with it has been very considerable. I don't believe the trust
in those who govern us will be restored unless those in authority
show leadership and determination in putting the abuses of the past
behind them, however uncomfortable that may be."
It's the kind of comment that rather suggests he does rather
fear that there may be attempts to water down his proposals
Whatever happens, it seems MPs will have to wear their
hairshirts - at least for the immediate future.
Wednesday, November 04 2009