the state should purchase accomadation and then it can be passed on to mps who eventually take their place to prevent the profiteering that exists and even the furniture and houshold good[eg tv setc could be passed on,in addition why do we need so many mps and thelords now that europe makes all the rules or better still get out of europe which is also bent and save the amount of money we pay in and use to improve our country which is now in a state of deciline,in addition our mps get a good salery and a gold plated pension,

Whilst working within the Public Sector Im pretty sure putting dodgy claims in is deemed as misappropriation of funds. Going back a few years a high ranking official within our job was given a Prison Term for this .
I very much doubt that our elected highwaymen would receive the same treatment.

Barty,you are correct,it is stealing & does warrant a prison sentence

Nothing to do with the recession. This has been looming for a couple of years now ever since a journalist ( can't think of her name but think she's an american living over here) decided to use the Freedom of Information Act to request this sort of info.For the last couple of years MP's have been battling to control if the information is released and if it is how much of it is.

What makes me chuckle about Hazel Blears, who is my MP by the way, is that she says she is sending a cheque to pay for Capital Gains Tax that isn,t due.

This therefore is a voluntary payment and will be set against any future liabilities shey may or may not incurr.

In effect therefore the gesture isn,t what it seems because if say in 12 months time or less when all this fuss has died down she is entitled to ask for it back, and, the Inland Revenue would have to refund it but couldn,t tell the press.

the latest claims are a disgrace david blunket has claimed for a moto cross bike, a hand glider and a pair of binoculars.