VOTE: Worthing MPs call for expenses reform
WORTHING MPs Tim Loughton and Peter Bottomley have called for an urgent reform in Parliament's system of expenses and allowances.
Mr Loughton received a claims total of 145,975 for the year 2007/08, the most recent figures available, while Mr Bottomley's total claim for that year was 126,603.
In the full list of 645 MPs, their approved claims were listed in value as, respectively, 337th and 561st.
MPs have an annual salary of 64,766.
Tim Loughton MP
Mr Loughton, who represents East Worthing and Shoreham, told the Herald : "The public is understandably outraged about the recent revelations about the way the MPs' expenses system works or clearly doesn't work.
"The system has been brought into disrepute by the excesses of a few, not helped by the broad and lax criteria under which allowances are granted and the fact that, uniquely, the job of an MP requires us to operate from three different work places – Westminster, the constituency office and our homes.
"It is vital that the system is now urgently reformed to start to restore confidence in the whole political process and in the important jobs that our constituents sent us to Parliament to do."
To read more about Tim Loughton's expenses click here.
Peter Bottomley MP
Worthing West MP Peter Bottomley said: "We need a system which works, in which the public and taxpayers can have confidence, and of which the MPs and the public can say, 'this is fair'.
Mr Bottomley said he had told a constituent who hoped there would be no "dodgy expenses claims" from the Bottomley household: "Never be too sure! Few can claim 'everything all right here'; I was brought up to avoid advertising vice and not to claim virtue.
"Almost anything in or out of context can look absurd. Some of it is.
"When I complete allowance submissions for the year just past, I think I shall send copies to the local paper and put it on the website.
"My moles are dealt with by a friend, and I do my own chimney-sweeping. No moat."
Read more Peter Bottomley and his expenses by clicking here.
Have your say
Do you think there should be tougher rules on what expenses MPs can claim?
Vote yes or no in the panel to the right of the screen.
What do you think?
What changes should be made to the way MPs are paid?
What should they be allowed to claim for?
How would you change the system?
Share your views by commenting below, email the Herald or write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.
A full name an address is required before letters can be considered for publication. These details can be withheld on request.
Read about Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert's anger at anti-gay bias by clicking here.
Brian Stephens discusses MPs expenses in this week's Personal View column.
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Weather for Worthing
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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