Commuting futility

Thanks for the constructive comments on yesterday's blog.

My day has been divided between finishing the item for Channel Four News and then rushing up to Landrindod Wells for a meeting between MPs and AMs.

I will reply later on expenses. The 'vox pop' in Newport was a surprise. Yes there was the expected indignation against bath-plug gate and porn movie gate but the subject most frequently raised was second homes. The interviews were filmed near the Chartist statue in Newport Centre.

I expected objections to second homes for those living in London. What  I did not expect was the suggestions that it would be reasonable for me to commute every day to London and back, That would entail travelling for six hours day.  MPs are not elected to waste time travelling. There are far more important things to do. My working day starts in the Commons as 8.30 and finishes at ten o'clock. 

Commuting will damage MPs' ability to do the job and could well be more expensive.

Before second home allowances were paid, MPs living more than 100 miles from London had a miserable life in seedy hotels.  This is not reasonable.

It's impossible to anticipate which of the vox pops will be broadcast by Channel Four on Sunday. All were critical and polite. All thought MPs were rouges. All said they like their own MPs.

That's O.K. then.

Raffle triumph

The third getogethr of Labour MPs and AMs in Mid Wales was well attended tonight.

Without regular contact the two groups are likely to create a gulf of misunderstanding. The luminaries of Rhodri Morgan and Paul Murphy are here. The evening meal was a riot of jokes, reminiscences  and stories. 

There was a mystery 'raffle' that I won. But I was not told what the prize is. The secret will be revealed tomorrow morning. I smell a rat. What can it be?

I'll reveal all in the next blog.

Comments

[Kay Tie]

I don't read the Daily Mail - I try to take in a variety of blogs from those in the know. Hence I read this blog to get a Labour MP's take on things. We are all quite capable of seeing through spin and spotting journalistic abuses, particularly when cogent arguments are put forwards. I very much agree with Daniel Hannan's point that we are seeing the Internet cut out the political intermediaries who would tell us what to think.

I must also reiterate that in the Court of the Political Blogosphere, Caroline Spelman wasn't cleared.

[Paul Flynn]

Thank you, Matt Wardman. A roll of honour, eh?

My concentration on the cost and waste of travelling was because in a Channel 4 vox pop in my constituency a couple of my constituents thought commuting was a practical option for me.

It's not.

Thanks for the links

[Paul Flynn]

The headline, Kay Tie, on the Spelman story in the Mail was that she was 'cleared.' Eric Pickles represented a view that would have been applauded in the Commons Tea Room

[Matt Wardman]

>The cost of hotels at £150 plus a night , travelling by train from Newport at £100 - £200 a day, renting a private London flat or living in a purpose built one owned by the Commons would not be very different.

The advantages would be the ability to simply abolish a whole class of allowances and simplify the system.

I don't see a price problem, but I'll run through the numbers in a comment on a later post, and send a guest post if you would accept it.

>There is something, I agree, very suspicious about only Labour names being dragged out - I am sure there are some Tories up to no good as well, but Brown should swallow his pride and take up Nick Clegg's suggestion to get together with himself and Cameron and sort this matter out once and for all.

Agreed this is cross-party (though less for Lib Dems, who have had a tighter policy for some time. I'm trying to find when it started).

I suspect that there are more Lab than Tories exposed as :

a) There were 2.5 times as many Lab as Tory MPs for nearly 10 years.
b) Government Ministers have the freebie houses and opportunity to exploit.
c) I suspect there may have been a "we can take things to the limit in the New Age" Masters of the Universe culture especially among the large young Lab intake in 1997. Not wanting to start a political argument, but they have been willing to change many conventions wholesale and ride roughshod over tradition.
d) During this period there has been a huge rise in both property and allowances, so the numbers are bigger.
e) The Daily Mail is targeting them.

btw Paul, I'll add you to my Roll of Honour.
http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2009/01/22/mps-who-support-full-transparency-on-expenses-roll-of-honour/

Blog buttons here:
http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2009/01/21/blog-buttons-for-full-disclosure-for-mp-expenses/

[Kay Tie]

I don't think it's suspicious that it's Labour names coming to the fore. Labour is in power and ministers are more famous and newsworthy. Secondly, the statistics on claims show a lot more Labour names on the list. Thirdly, it's not true that Tories aren't coming in for stick - didn't you see any coverage of Eric Pickles? If you read "right wing" bloggers like Guido Fawkes you'll see every Tory snout-in-trough story covered (he has been particularly critical of Caroline Spelman).

[Graham Marlowe]

Paul, re the Channel 4 item. I don't think you need to feel you wuill regret it. many people - of all parties and none, will admire you for your honesty and courage (and though I know you disagree with me on this, that is the reason I admired david Davis for standing down as shadow Home Secretary). You both believe 100 per cent in what you are saying. That is integrity and it is sad there are so few who are prepared to be that candid.

Another Sunday, another scandal this time it's the return of the Hoon Show, and Blunderwoman, it seems has claimed for a barbecue - no doubt essential to help in her onerous parliamentary duties. it is people like her, McNulty, Hoon (who apparently let out his London flat while using a grace and favour place) who should be feeling shame. But Smith is shameless, as she admits she never considered resigning. Well, I've said it before Brown should sack her and the others. This, in my view, is a form of benefit fraud, and as the government takes that matter so seriously, they should be just as viscious in cracking down on their own playing the system.

There is something, I agree, very suspicious about only Labour names being dragged out - I am sure there are some Tories up to no good as well, but Brown should swallow his pride and take up Nick Clegg's suggestion to get together with himself and Cameron and sort this matter out once and for all. As for yourself, I am sure I can speak for everyone who contributes to your blog to say we are proud of you.

[Paul Flynn]

By that time Graham, there are likely to be a new crop of MPs. In fact they are likely in 2010.

The last block of flats purchase suggestion was turned down as two expensive.

[Graham Marlowe]

Just a suggestion, Paul. When the Olympics are over, there are going to be lots of places available (the athletes accommodation) - perhaps that could be put to use?. Pickles would then only have to travel from Brentwood to Stratford (about 20 minutes) and Dawn Butler could give up her place in E15. It would also save Barbara Follett £93 a time on window cleaning bills

[Paul Flynn]

Thanks Matt.
There was a move to buy old London County Hall when Thatcher closed down London Government. It's not a cheap option.
While allowances cover mortgage interest and running costs, it certainly does not pay for mortgage payments. That the MPs' risk. Those who bought in the past three years are probably in negative equity.

The cost of hotels at £150 plus a night , travelling by train from Newport at £100 - £200 a day, renting a private London flat or living in a purpose built one owned by the Commons would not be very diferent.

Anyone done the calculations?

[Matt Wardman]

Entirely supportive of your position on the Expenses, Paul.

On second homes, I now want to see the House Authorities owning a block of flats (as in Norway), so that it is out of the allowances system entirely.

If any MPs then wish to own a separate home in London, they can buy one themselves like everyone else.

What better time to do it than in a property crash?

Matt Wardman

[Matt Wardman]

Entirely supportive of your position on the Expenses, Paul.

On second homes, I now want to see the House Authorities owning a block of flats (as in Norway), so that it is out of the allowances system entirely.

If any MPs then wish to own a separate home in London, they can buy one themselves like everyone else.

What better time to do it than in a property crash?

Matt Wardman

[Paul Flynn]

Thanks KayTie. that's a deeply sastisfying clip.

It proves that you cannot fool all of the people even some of the time. It also exposes the unwisdom of the Westminster bubble in which 37 miles is too far to commute. 142 miles definitely is.

[Kay Tie]

Interesting response on the pathetic Pickles performance on Question Time: his wife said to him he was awful, and he himself said his appearance was like a slow motion car crash.

http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2009/04/eric-pickles-gives-mea-culpa-to-andrew.html

We should at least give him credit for recognising reality when it hits. Not many MPs seem capable of that.

[Paul Flynn]

Thanks Graham. I agree. It was foolish of anyone to defend the indefensible arrangements for London second homes. I am hoping the item on Channel Four news tomorrow night will present a fair view of the issue.

[Graham Marlowe]

I have no objection to second homes for MPs whose constituencies are in anywwhere other than London and it's immediate environs, provided they are modest, and don't go for undue luxury - people like yourself, what I - and I think MOST people object to - are those MPs like Dawn Butler, Eric Pickles (to name one from each main party) who live close enough to their constituencies to commute on a daily basis.

Which brings me to McNulty - he is like Geoff Hoon - he has had so many jobs in government and in each been so mediocre, he should be returned to the backbenches, and the longer "Global" Gordon allows him to cling on, the weaker and more seedy Bfrown looks.