MP's expenses and allowances

While we are not blessed with a particularly impressive bunch of MPs in the current parliament, I tend to give most of them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their motivation and honesty.

But the debates they have held on their own expenses suggest that many of them are completely out of touch with how real people live.

Of course they need a home in both London and their constituency. No reasonable person would argue with those homes being adequately furnished. But the allowances they receive for this should not be used to make a capital gain and boost what is already an above average salary and a generous pension scheme.

My own solution would be to put all MPs into council accommodation, either flat or house according to their need. This would remove any chance of them being accused of having their noses in the trough, but would also have an added advantage.

I am willing to bet that it wouldn't be long before the standard of council housing improved, redecorating and repairs would be carried out more quickly, and anti-social behaviour on estates would be tackled.

Another aspect of the debate I find interesting is that MPs of all parties seem to be agreed that £24,000 free of tax is a suitable amount for someone living in London. If that is so, why is not the basic tax allowance £24,000 for the rest of people living in London, and a similar adjusted figure (say £19,000) for those of us outside the capital?

Until MPs start to live with the same forces and problems the bulk of us face, they will never be able to represent us properly, nor can they expect our trust and respect.