House of Commons Expenses Scandal 

Most people around the nation are astonished at the greed of our elected politicians and concerned that they very nearly succeeded in ensuring their claims never claim to light.

The nation has witnessed MP after MP excuse their behaviour stating that it is not they that are rotten but the system, that they are not crooks or fraudsters, even where the police have been called in, they claim to the bitter end, that no fault lies with them.

From £18,000 shelves, to mortgages being claimed when none existed, we have all watched and on the nation's lips there is no other story, but what about our politicians. It came to light that Lady Sylvia Hermon disclosed an overpayment made due to a claim some years ago on a rental flat and most people having watched her touching interview, believed the mistake a genuine one.

Likewise, the First Minister Peter Robinson also hit the airwaves defending a £30,000 food bill over a four year period. Most people did not find the claim in itself excessive but some believed his interview contemptible, stating 'it equates to just about £73 a week', but does Mr Robinson attend parliament every week, does parliament even sit 52 weeks of the year, of course not! Mr. Robinson in a interview viewable on the BBC website stated with regards to his food claim: 'it is not regarded as being unreasonable by the fees office and thats why they don't require any receipts'. There must indeed have been a lack regime at the House of Commons for £30,000 of public money to have been dished out without receipts.

It is important that we should look at the claim within context and a job not a million miles away from the lifestyle of a politician is that of Business Consultant. In that post consultants are often required to be away from home all week, some stay in hotels and as such are able to claims expenses such as meals, whilst others on long term projects secure an apartment so they are able to live normal lives away from home, such an arrangement enables them to cook for themselves and as such, they are unable to claim subsistence for eating out. Our politicians appear to has passed rules granting them the best of both worlds, for Peter and Iris Robinson whilst claiming a reported £30,000 in food allowances, also claims nearly £160,000 in mortgage interest payments.