Beckett in fresh row over expenses
MARGARET Beckett was today accused of "not getting it" over MPs' expenses after a letter she sent to an inquiry investigating the allowances system was published.
In the letter, the Derby South MP points out flaws in ideas that have been put forward to reform the expenses system commenting, "the words baby and bath water spring to mind". Political opponents branded the letter a defence of the current system and claimed it showed Mrs Beckett had misjudged the electorate's mood.
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Margaret Beckett
But the MP – whose own expenses were widely publicised in the media – claims she was not defending the system, but merely "presenting the facts" to the inquiry.
Sir Christopher Kelly, to whom Mrs Beckett's letter was addressed, is chairing the inquiry into the expenses system and asked all MPs to write to him giving their opinions on how things should change.
Speaking to the Derby Telegraph, Mrs Beckett said: "I was very careful to not make any recommendations.
"I merely wanted to present the facts and issues to them as they are."
Mrs Beckett's letter covers several key issues including the second home allowance – which members use to cover the cost of running an alternative property.
She writes in her letter: "Others who face work-related expenses commonly have them met from work-related funds.
"And few, if any, who receive similar salaries would be assumed to be able to meet the double costs MPs face without reimbursement."
She goes on to argue that MPs face other costs which they have to pay from their own pocket which make it harder for them to pay for a second home from their own salary, such as campaigns, donations and public functions.
Her comments are in stark contrast to the more radical reforms put forward including restricting MPs to claiming for rent only or even building a block of tailor-made members' flats near Parliament.
Mrs Beckett also writes about the resettlement grant – given to MPs who lose or step down from their seats – which is worth between 50% and 100% of their final salary.
She writes: "Such grants were introduced because of the particular insecurity and uncertainty of a political career – both job and home in jeopardy every four or five years at most."
Questionable claims Mrs Beckett had tried to make on her Parliamentary allowances were widely reported, including £600 on plants and £711 on a shed, pergola and other materials.
The Conservative Parliamentary candidate in Derby South, Jack Perschke, said Mrs Beckett's letter showed she still did not understand the public's attitude towards expenses.
He said: "She's clearly missed the point. The whole point is transparency and it's about value for money.
"I understand how wedded she is to the system, she has been part of it for 30 years, but the people of Derby need an opportunity to ask if she provides value for money."
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9 Comments
by Vetinari, Derby
Friday, August 21 2009, 2:32PM
“Best value for money is provided for us by sending independently wealthy people to Westminster. The young and the poor can't be expected to offer value for money and we don't want to fund them buying a second home, so why elect them at all? Have the poorer or younger members of society got anything to say that needs to be said in Parliament?”
by peter ambler, spondon
Friday, August 21 2009, 2:30PM
“if i remember a few years bak local newspapers said. she was found to be claiming for a mortgage .that had ended .did she ever give ,that money back .ive always wanted to know .all this second home business should be stopped .pariamebt should claim all these homes in london as theres .when an mp gets caught usually fidling .that home should go to who replaces them .that way saving taxpayers a lot of money .they all got caught shredded the evidence ,they claim .why did the police not simply check all thier bank details . i bet theyd find it all in there money in and out .the police do it to normal people .i say bust the lot .get them gone .find some better rouges to run the country ,peter ambler”
by Richard, Derby
Friday, August 21 2009, 11:38AM
“Whilst I agree that MP's salaries are the highest (especially given the tasks that they are supposed to carry out) and in many industries employees expected to work away from home for extended periods would receive recompense for it - how many other jobs of similar standing allow you to hold several othe rpaying jobs (directorships, consultant, etc) at the same time? I for one am fed up to the back teeth with the whole system and wouldn't be sorry in this instance to see the "baby thrown ot with the bathwater" to coin Mrs Beckett's phrase.
Wholesale reform is required, not only of the expenses system but of what MP's are expected/allowed to do whilst in office. One way may be to increase their salaries so that they can concentrate on serving their electorate, but before anything like that happens they need to win back our trust, and with comments like those attributed to Mrs Beckett in this article, I can't see that happening in a rush.”
by Rincewind, Derby
Friday, August 21 2009, 11:33AM
“The quote Jon has posted is interesting. At least MPs get 4 or 5 years which is more than some people do in the current climate. It is time MPs got their act together and started living in the real world that the rest of us have to. The trouble is, who do you vote for at the next election? They are all as bad as each other. I wonder if a bunch of Independents stood at the next election, campaigning on local issues that mattered to their constituents, how many people would be willing to vote for them - I know I would!”
by Nick, Derby
Friday, August 21 2009, 10:06AM
“I have never know such a smug, conceited and arrogant politician.
She is an embarrasment to our city.
Prehaps she will finally get the message when she gets given her marching orders in the next election.
Wake up and smell the coffee Mrs B - the people are sick of the criminal antics of our MP's.”
by Jon, Derby
Friday, August 21 2009, 8:59AM
“She writes: "Such grants were introduced because of the particular insecurity and uncertainty of a political career ¿ both job and home in jeopardy every four or five years at most."
You having nothing to be concerned about if you work for the electorate, putting the voters first and employing common sense policies.
Unfortunately, Mrs Beckett, time and time again you have failed to do this, and time and time again you have been exposed as self-serving, ignorant and arrogant. There will be great joy in Derbyshire when you're gone.”
by Tom, Local
Friday, August 21 2009, 8:50AM
“MPs get a fantastic 'golden handshake' when they leave Parliament, as well as the best pension scheme in the country. Don't worry, she'll not be short of a bob or two.”
by john, mickleover
Friday, August 21 2009, 8:40AM
“Forget about the expenses Mrs Becket.
If I were you I'd concentrate of the redundancy payments - that's the ones you will need after the next election.”
by Keith Bentley, ex Derby
Friday, August 21 2009, 8:05AM
“Job and home in jeopard eh Margaret - think the home is well paid for after 30yrs of expenses but lets hope the job goes very soon - election looming”