MPs expenses consultation.

MPs are in for a rough ride!

There are some clear cut issues in here (yes, stop paying for mortgages and just pay rent, don’t pay it if the constituency is in London, etc) but there are a couple of other issues.

MP’s Staffers

These guys are currently treated really badly, simply because MP’s offices are immune to employment law (half of them have no contracts, huge hours and tiny wages, massive competition for the jobs so no complaining or you’re out). Make them the employees of the House, however, (money comes from same place, still interviewed and appointed by the MP, only difference is on paper) and suddenly John Bercow HAS to recognise their Union, which he is currently refusing to do without giving a reason, and they suddenly all get treated like proper citizens again. Well, that’s what I put, anyway.

Publishing Receipts

We need to be careful here; they mention in the consultation that there will be no redaction at all in future. This is in contravention of the data protection act from the POV of the staff, so don’t let them get away with it! Also, if the staff are employed by the House, a happy side effect is that Parliament (rather than the MPs themselves), as the Data Holder under the Data Protection Act, are responsible for redacting the addresses, making the whole thing much more transparent.

Diversity

The whole point of paying MPs at all is to make sure anyone can stand. And by “can” we mean “in a financial position to”. Don’t let them miss of the Care allowance (gives MPs with kids larger accommodation budget so they can rent a proper house where the kids can stay), and demand a Disability allowance too, for those who need special accommodation and transport costs met. Parliament needs to be much more of the people, and we don’t want to discourage Mothers, Wheelchair Users, or ‘anyone not from the landed gentry’ from being eligible by forgetting to include extra payments where the lack thereof could prove a deterrent.

You have until February to fill out this form and influence the constitution. GO!