Conway wasn’t the only corrupt MP, you know

Dear Liz Hunt,

In the aftermath of the Derek Conway expenses scandal, I found it baffling that more MPs weren’t discovered to be playing the system.  Your best efforts to highlight the abuse of expenses by Michael Martin, the Speaker of the House, are certainly appreciated but the rest of the media don’t seem that fussed.

You were right to point out the horrible irony of Michael Martin being in charge of reforming the transparency of MPs’ expenses, seeing as he has been shafting the taxpayer by handing out cheap flights to seven other people by using the accumulated benefits of his expenses which are, naturally, funded by the taxpayer.  This is a flagrant breach of the rules which - like the Derek Conway saga - are not hard to understand.  Like you, I don’t see this as being in the same class as Mr Conway when it comes to the sum of money involved, but the principle of MPs following the rules is again ignored, yet no punishments are administed and other MPs remain very quiet on this issue.

I have an idea - why don’t we all agree that any MP who is caught taking advantage of expenses is stripped on any official title or position in the Commons or Lords and is automatically deselected at the next General Election and banned from Parliamentary proceedings for the remainder of their time in office.  Simple, direct and totally in line with the responsibilities of their position as a Member of Parliament and a representative of the people.

Yours sincerely,

A.Tory