So the MP who is alleged to have claimed 59p for the purchase of a chocolate santa turns out to represent me. Except that it was not a santa that was bought, it was a packet of chocolate coins and the MP did not claim for them nor did she receive reimbursement for her purchase. They appeared on a receipt alongside another legitimate item. They were not itemised on the claim form.
Sian James is innocent.
There have been some terrible abuses of the system by members of all parties. Their actions are inexcusable and the failure of Parliament under the guidance of the Speaker to introduce a transparent and accountable system has allowed excesses to continue. However, there has also been some sloppy journalism and the chocolate santa episode is one example of that. Together these two factors have generated justifiable public anger that needs to be met head on with reform and the punishment of those who have stepped outside both the letter and the spirit of the rules.
In the meantime, two Labour peers, Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Truscott, are set to become the first members of the House of Lords to be suspended since the English Civil War after being found guilty of offering to amend Government legislation in return for money. The Lords Committee for Privileges has found that the peers breached parliamentary rules on “paid advocacy” and “personal honour”. They are proposing that the House suspends the pair until the end of the current session of Parliament.
Is that it? Isn’t it about time that these sorts of breaches were policed by a truly independent body with real powers to sanction and punish members? It is little wonder that the public feel angry at what politicians appear to be getting away with.
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