to think MP's second home allowance is too easily forgotten about

[freddy05]

They can claim up to £20000 a year in second home allowance from us taxpayers on top of all their other expenses claims, food entertaining, travel etc, and yet they are cutting people's benefits to the point that they are having to use food banks and cutting housing benefits for people having 'spare' rooms and totally capping benefits at £26000.

I can't quite believe that people who are supposed to be serving our country can get away with having so much money in expenses from the taxpayer and still keep a straight face while they try and pitch us all off against each other.

The nation needs to save money, we all know that, but us voters seem to be missing the real problem and we're turning on each other while those in power are getting richer and richer

[Crawling]

Hear hear brilliant post YADNBU

[SirBoobAlot]

Quite.

[ssd]

true

[landofsoapandglory]

YANBU, there was something going round Fb last week about one MP who was claiming £1600 a month for her second home when her first home was only 19 miles from the House of Commons!

[Lulabellarama]

What do you think is a reasonable amount in housing expenses for MPs outside London? Bearing in mind there are frequent late night votes.
Not trying to be antagonistic, just interested in what's deemed acceptable.

[freddy05]

There must be a local housing allowance for the area lulabellarama so they should get the same as anyone else would really I would say.

The point though is that they are getting all this while calling large parts of our population scroungers for getting benefits on top of their wages so that they can afford to live where their jobs are. They are trying to turn us hard working folks against each other so we forget about what they're up to and focus on the family next door who might be claiming a few pounds more than us.

[Lulabellarama]

Well that's not true. MPs come from a variety of political parties, with varying agendas and policies.

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

Yanbu
Priorities are fucked. Privilege protects privilege. They should be allowed to book a travelodge for the nights they are needed and have a maximum spend of £10 for meals the way public sector workers have to.

[freddy05]

sorry lulabellarama you are correct.

I should have said that the problem is that MPs are happily taking these allowances while the Government tries to turn us against one another.

sorry for not being clearer in my political terminology.

[twolittlemonkeys]

YANBU. Priorities are well and truly screwed up. It really makes my blood boil.

[StealthPolarBear]

Good post

[mrsjay]

I don't think people forget that MPs suck the taxpayers money out of them it is a fucking disgrace, but that is what happens and we are meant to suck it up and accept it and all the wile the bang on about the squeezed middle so people turn on the hate and start producing facts and figures about a woman with a 100 kids living off benefits and l lounging about in her mansion

I think these mps should be housed in dorms and have set meal times when they are at work during the week

[Lulabellarama]

But what should MPs be 'allowed'?
I'm no advocate of the current government but that's got little to do with how we compensate our elected members for doing a job that involves ridiculous hours, huge responsibility and that very few others want to do. Financially it's not an amazing deal they get, yet a huge amount is expected of them.
The problem isn't what they are paid or what expenses they can claim, it's that people are electing the wrong people to represent their views.

[stargirl1701]

Some MPs do require a second home in London. From what I've read, it seems like a reasonable allowance for London prices.

[CloudsAndTrees]

There is a valid argument for reducing MPs expenses as they are currently able to claim too much, but it is reasonable that they are able to claim something for accommodation in London.

They wouldn't be able to attend parliament and do their job otherwise, and in any other job employees would be able to expect travel and accommodation expenses related to their work to be paid for.

[maddening]

I stand by my idea of a halls of residence/ travel lodge affair with shared kitchenettes for those that live out of London but need to be in London - no need for food expenses as they can prep their own food in their kitchenette.

No travel expenses either imo.

[expatinscotland]

I don't see why they are treated differently from military/MOD personnel who are based in London.

I think the subsidised bar needs to go, and the grocery allowance.

[expatinscotland]

Rent allowance for a bedsit in the area, and if they want anything more they pay for it out of their own pockets.

And no subsidised alcohol. They do not need alcohol to do their jobs.

[anklebitersmum]

MPs should all do like the forces do. Why not allocate them an appropriate space for them as per their actual requirements?

Allocate them a single bunk in a 'mess type' building if they are travelling to and from their family at the weekends/monthly (like single and married-unaccompanied soldiers get) or give them as per Forces regs a house as per their family size-IF they are living there all day everyday with their family.

If they want to keep their original home then either rent it out or take the hit financially. Like the forces have to. No taxpayer paid for benefits.

Oh, and they're not commissioned so just standard housing please..all going throught the existing system for the Armed forces. 'Marched in' and then, when they're done, 'marched out'.

Problem solved

[anklebitersmum]

Oh, and by 'give' I mean allocate and then take payment directly from their wages.

[Lulabellarama]

Well I'm not sure I think that putting them in dorms or student-style housing is going to increase the calibre of politicians willing to do the job.

And they have to have two homes because they need to be amongst their constituents, running surgeries and working on local issues, but also need to be at the HoC frequently too.

[expatinscotland]

I agree, anklebiter, I don't think they deserve treatment better than those who are serving the country, and they don't get a £400 grocery allowance, taxpayer-purchased home or subsidised bar at work.

[Pootles2010]

I agree ankle, think they should have bought accomodation for all mps in london ages ago.

Obviously they'd never be quite that extreme (althought they should) but a block of nice 2/3 bed flats in London that they can use whilst they're in London would be quite sufficient. Rather like the thought of them all living in close quarters and pissing each other off

[expatinscotland]

'And they have to have two homes because they need to be amongst their constituents, running surgeries and working on local issues, but also need to be at the HoC frequently too.'

Fair enough, then corporate housing/one-bed flat in London, a la the MOD/forces, if they want to buy a home there, they can do it themselves. NO more taxpayer buying them a second home in London.

[Badvoc]

Divide and conquer.
'twas always thus.