Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor, today published the results of a survey and analysis of local newspaper coverage of MPs’ expenses claims.
The analysis found that IPSA’s bi-monthly publication of claims and rejected claims is unnecessarily diverting MPs’ time away from their constituents, as they are forced to fire-fight false accusations.
Key findings:
a) The IPSA are bringing MPs into disrepute by portraying honest claims as illegitimate, which is generating misleading media coverage nationwide.
b) 63% of stories made unfair and misleading comparisons between MPs and their claims.
c) 97% of local newspaper stories were negative towards MPs.
d) Negative coverage was seen by 28 million readers of local newspapers.
e) MPs and their staff are forced to spend 498 days a year rebutting misleading and inaccurate stories generated by the IPSA, at an additional cost of about £150,000 to the taxpayer (£340,000 including overheads).
Commenting on the findings, Mr Afriyie said:
“People were understandably angry about the MPs who cheated the old system, but it cannot be right that the IPSA’s mistakes and omissions are damaging the reputation of honest MPs and the British Parliament.
“The research demonstrates that it is time for major reform of the expenses system to reduce the costs to the taxpayer and begin rebuilding the reputation of Parliament.
“MPs have a duty to put things right for the future, and that is why I have introduced the Parliamentary Standards (Amendment) Bill, which enjoys widespread cross-party support.
“Today, I am urging the Government to have the courage to allow the Bill to make progress.”
Editor’s Notes:
1. Adam Afriyie is the only MP never to have claimed the personal expenses or allowances.
2. Mr Afriyie submitted a letter to the IPSA public consultation which was co-signed by 100 MPs and supported by around 300: http://www.adamafriyie.org/AR%20-%20Ltr%20to%20Sir%20Ian%20Kennedy.html
3. The submission featured on the frontpage of the Daily Telegraph on 16th February, 2011: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/8326649/MPs-threaten-to-rewrite-Commons-expense-rules-in-row-with-watchdog.html
4. If the Government is to adhere to the unanimous motion passed in the House of Commons on 2nd December 2010, as it has indicated, it will need to allow a Bill to pass to committee within the next few days: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/15/cameron-mps-expenses-ipsa
5. Mr Afriyie has recently written two articles on the issue of MPs’ expenses, both published in the House Magazine: http://www.adamafriyie.org/AR%20-%20Parliament%20must%20pipe%20up.html; http://www.adamafriyie.org/AR%20-%20Learning%20from%20an%20expenses%20mistake.html
6. The Parliamentary Standards (Amendment) Bill – what does it do?
- Reduces the cost of MPs by about £4 million a year.
- Retains a strict regime of receipts for office and staff costs - so that the public can see exactly how their money is spent.
- Simplifies the way in which payments are made by introducing a completely transparent taxable Members’ Allowance – it would be simple and cheap to administer and impossible to abuse.
- Treats MPs exactly the same as any person with self-employed income – they must deal with the HMRC for legitimate business expenses.
- Asks IPSA to set the rate for the Members Allowance for an entire Parliament.
- Maintains the independence of the IPSA, but forces it to fulfil its original mandate to be cost-effective and efficient.
- The Bill is offered as a cross-party platform for change, not a final destination and is open to amendment in committee.
- Puts to bed an issue that’s been plaguing Parliament for 50 years.
7. Mr Afriyie’s official website: http://www.adamafriyie.org/
Contact Details: Telephone: 020 7219 2005 Email: adam.afriyie.mp@parliament.uk
ENDS