Allowances again...

Perhaps because they have something to hide, or feel that their use of funds cannot be justified, some MPs are now considering awarding themselves an increase in salary to replace the old allowances.

The situation certainly needs major change, with some MPs claiming two or even three times in allowances what they receive in salary. Various notorious cases have been mentioned - free taxi rides for the wife to go shopping, claiming for a second house when the first house is within one hour of London by train, claiming for a second home which is already fully owned, and overgenerous payments to helpers. All this ignores considerable other expenses, such as postage and communications.

The answer is surely complete transparency. The problem is that in the private sector the employer is keen to spot anyone "trying it on", whereas MPs are their own employers but using the funds of other people (-taxpayers). They have every incentive to award themselves more and more, and also to conceal what they are taking.

They cannot be permitted to transfer all allowances to salary, because in the end there are such differences between them. The MPs from Orkney or the Highlands, or Cornwall, clearly will need an additional house in the London area, even if their travel is paid for them. They certainly can't return home each day! So where do you draw the line? Free accommodation for those living more than 50 miles from London during parliamentary sessions? It would be nigh impossible to find an agreement.

Like it or not, they must accept that something like the present system is necessary, and if so those who pay must be much more aware of what is going on.