When privately obtained information about MPs’ expenses first began appearing in newspapers a few weeks ago – they were criticised by ministers and MPs for having the temerity to reveal information that would be in the public domain by mid June anyway.

And with the official publication of their expenses this week, we now know just why they were so enraged that the media had jumped the gun – they hadn’t had a chance to finish doctoring the records!

Had the appalling abuse of the Parliamentary expenses system by so many of our elected representatives not been exposed ahead of the official publication of the heavily censored records, we would never have known about the lengths to which MPs have been prepared to go to line their pockets at the expense of taxpayers.

The Mother of Parliaments has become a den of thieves and a refuge for scoundrels.


Robert Readman, Norwich Avenue West, Bournemouth