Imminent Relapse

Sir Stuart Bell, (left) has happlily accepted the role as defiant defender of the ancien regime of MPs and their entitlement to outrageous expense claims. As one of only four Members of the Estimate Committee, he is, by definition, a pillar of the Parliamentary establishment. However, 25 years in the Commons has resulted in a thoroughly blunted sensitivity to the opinions of the electorate, even to the point of imperviousness.

The investigations by Sir Thomas Legg into how much money MPs should repay have had to rely on clarified criteria on what is reasonable expenditure. Out of the £24,000 additional cost allowance, Legg has placed a limit on gardening for £1,000 and cleaning of £2,000. On balance he appears to have got these figures about right.

But "no!" scream MPs and their chief bully Sir Stuart, "these criteria are retrospective and unfair". Indeed 'Belly' expected constituents to rally round, telling the BBC, "I think the public would accept that some breach of fairness there, is not actually proper for our Members of Parliament. " Perhaps he really believes the public think that, who can say? It is unlikley to be a commonly held view in his own, perennially depressed, Middlesborough seat.

The Old Dinosaur has conveniantly forgotten the rules set out in the Green Book state claims should be, "only made for expenditure…necessary to perform …parliamentary duties.” This over-arching principle was ignored wholesale by 100s of MPs and it is right for it to be re-applied, albeit in a slightly unscientific manner.

If one persuses the list serial offenders on gardening they are almost exclusively Conservative; Michael Howard, Gerald Howarth, Antony Steen, James Clappison. John Gummer claimed over £9,000 on the estate of his rural property and faces a massive bill. But even weeks after the Telegraph's horrow show headlines, John Selwyn still felt arrogant enough to proclaim to the East Anglian Daily Times, “I have had no critical letters or comments from constituents.” I ensured he had at least one by the following day.

Bell may feel it is his duty to protect his members, like the assistant Secretary of a trade union, but his wider duty is to the public taxpayer. Despite his emminent legal background he appears to be somewhat tongue-tied on occassion and stumbles over his words; he would be well-advised to shut up altogether.