The Expenses scandal - Time to tell MPs we have had enough!

Its sad that MPs (including our Prime Minister) are now falling over themselves to apologise for their years of excessive expense claims.

Sad because they are only apologising because they have been found out and we now know just what these people have been doing for years.

Sad because they have been saying for weeks "I've not broken any rules" or "I've done nothing wrong". When clearly they have!

Sad because they claim that its the system at fault and not them!

Most of all its sad because it shows just how out of touch with reality and common sense MPs have become.

The net effect of their raid on the UK Taxpayer will be yet more years of mistrust in politicians. Fewer people will bother to vote because they will think that "all politicians are crooks" so why bother.

If people really want to get rid of greedy and corrupt politicians, not voting is the worst thing they can do. At an election, typically only 40% or less of the electorate will turn out. Just imagine if that 60% - the silent majority - who did not vote turned out and said, with one voice, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

If that 60% of the electorate cast their voices, and their votes, to independant candidates, then the professional politicians and the parties they support would be cast to the wind and people would at last get representation that worked for them.

It is ironic that, if the Jury Team proposals on pay and expenses had been adopted, the excesses that we are all so angry about would not have occurred, since all expenses would have to be published and would be subject to scrutiny by an independant body!

If I am elected as a Member of the European Parliament, I will keep my personal expenses to a reasonable minimum and provide receipts for all expenses claimed. My expenses will be annually audited by an independent accountant and published for all to see.

Personally I cannot see how, when we ordinary people have to meticulously provide records to the Inland Revenue for fear of being investigated or worse, MPs think that its fine to simply buy whatever they want and claim it back from the good old British Tax Payer.

I do believe that MPs should have reasonable expenses reimbursed! After all, if we were working away from home at the behest of a company, we would expect our reasonable expenses to be reimbursed.

But I would not consider a new kitchen or repairs on your own property a reasonable expense. I would not consider general food a reasonable expense (are they saying they wouldn't need to eat normally if they weren't MPs?). In fact seeing some MPs claim for things like a 5p Ikea Carrier bag just takes the biscuit.

Its time we looked at an alternative to the usual suspects.

I believe the Jury Team can provide that alternative - normal, honest people who can bring back a sense of honour to British Politics!