Thank you for asking for my comments on the review of MP’s allowances.

Having looked at the proposals put forward by the Members Estimate Committee there clearly is a pre-decision which is necessary. Either the House of Commons as an institution reacts to the media pressure on Members of Parliament’s remuneration in which case I have made a number of suggestions below, or it very clearly draws the line, stops being a pathetic victim of abuse by media and government, and boldly asserts its rights and duties.

My own view is the latter, however I have no faith that our weak and de-politicised House itself currently has the self confidence to pursue this path, therefore I make the following proposals:
1. Second Home
Single or family flats should be rented and furnished by the House of Commons and let to all future MPs. Transitional arrangements for existing leases/mortgages should be instituted gradually by the House of Commons. MPs therefore would not come in to contact with money at any point during this process. No further claims should be allowed for food, mortgages etc.

2. Employment of staff
Three House of Commons and three constituency staff should be interviewed and hired by MPs and paid on fixed term (renewable) contracts directly by the House of Commons. Employment of relatives should not be permitted. Constituency offices should be found by the MP but directly paid for by the House of Commons

3. MP’s Constituency Office Costs
MPs must pay out of their own pockets and only then be reimbursed monthly upon production of receipts. Reimbursements would therefore replace ‘expenses’ and ‘allowances’. A separate enquiry in to the funding of local and national politics should be instituted since this is inextricably linked to the funding of parliamentary representatives and the expectations of them.

4.    Travel to and from the constituency
As now, other than that families should be able to apply the current cash limits to standard-class fares in order to increase their number of journeys for the same costs.

5.   Communication with constituents
The entire costs of two MP Report mail shots per year (from layout to delivery) should be met by the House of Commons. Again, local parties’ expectations of their MPs mean that the enquiry in to party funding (see 3 above) is imperative

Redundancy
As now

Salary
This should be linked to the average of a basket of jobs including headteacher, doctor, civil servant, local council chief executive. It should be statutorily decided and awarded by an independent commission and not voted on by Parliament or subject to approval by government. Unless MP’s bite this bullet Parliament will be weakened by forever being impaled on the contradictions and misrepresentations of not being paid the rate for the job.

Other Pass holders
The level of information and disclosure on remuneration and reimbursement required of all journalists seeking passes to access the House of Commons, shall be no more onerous than that required of MP’s .

The proposals above are not about staving off the latest bit of sport from the media, they must be framed within a clear written settlement of the responsibilities and duties of an MP, particularly regarding the separation of the legislature and the executive. If we were to define the role of directly elected parliamentarians  this would make their proper remuneration essential and replace public contempt with  public support.

I would be pleased to offer further evidence to the committee upon request.