MPs Expenses 2: Return Of The Expenses

[Demolition Squid]

I didn't see anything about this, so I thought I'd put it together because I find it interesting.

The MPs Expenses row caused huge outrage at the time. MPs resigned in disgrace, some were charged with criminal action. It was, perhaps, the biggest political scandal that the UK has seen in a decade.

A few weeks ago I saw a headline claiming that MPs had 'record breaking' expenses this year. Nobody really seemed to care, there weren't hours upon hours dedicated to it this time.

In fact, MP expenses directly labelled as 'expenses' have fallen from £34m in 2010 to £23m this year, and no longer include things like moat cleaning services and porn. However, staffing costs have increased, and in total the bill, taking both sources of expense, has risen by 7% on last year, to £98m. This brings the total cost of each MP (excluding - I think - the wage for the MPs themselves, but including the cost of staff for their offices) to £150,769 each. Adding in the salary of the average MP (not including extra wages for select committee chairs etc) we come to a final cost of £217,165 before factoring in extra revenue sources (select committee chairs, etc).

Now that the fury has faded away, the total cost has risen rather than fallen. 'Expenses' aren't where they are fiddling any more - it seems that paying family members £25-£50k each instead is how MPs are bilking the public. All of this information is now available publicly... but hey, it isn't for duck houses any more, so there's no point getting upset.

(All of these figures taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24063954)

[Cain]

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