Originally Posted by Stuart

Personally, I have no problem with expenses. If they are needed. The trouble is, most of the expenses claims we have seen from MPs are arguably not needed.

Why should we be paying one MP to heat his estate? Why should we be subsidising their meals so heavily? Why should we be helping them with their rent/mortgages?

Yes, MPs are sometimes required to work late. Fair enough. So are Doctors. So are Nurses. Yet, they don't get heavily subsidised second homes. They don't get heavily subsidised quality meals. They (in my experience) get the same sort of food you get at BHS for slightly more than you pay at BHS.

I believe that the government has been actively encouraging trusts to sell off the on-site accommodation that used to be available to Nurses, doctors and (in some cases) other hospital staff.

Yet, in the event of a major accident or emergency, these people would be expected to be available and in work within a few minutes. Everyone from the cleaning, maintenance and catering staff through to the medical and surgical staff can be called in with little notice. I know people don't think about the cleaning, maintenance and catering staff, but even in a major emergency, the hospital needs to be kept clean, the equipment may need repair and the staff and patients need feeding.

MPs seem to believe they need second homes more than the aforementioned hospital staff, yet how many times does Parliament sit in the evening or at night?

Take my local MP. She claimed for a second home near parliament. Why? Is her constituency hundreds of miles from Parliament. No. It's 15 miles. Should she have ever been required to stay late for a session, she could have been driven back to the constituency in less than 40 minutes. I know, I've done the opposite journey on many an occasion.

Wish I got the expenses they do. Unfortunately, working in the public sector, all I get is either 30p a mile, or my fare by the cheapest route (this is checked) paid and some money toward one meal. This is IF I am called to work off campus for whatever reason. If I am working on campus (even if it's after hours) I am expected to do it as part of my job, even if it's out of hours.