Green Party

The Green Party has issued a national statement on the Westminster MPs' expenses scandal, calling for an independent commission to make new rules. 
 
 
Green Party statement:
 
The Green Party wants a thorough investigation to ascertain the full details of what has gone wrong, and in exactly what ways, so that the issue can be completely addressed. But our immediate proposals would be:
·         MPs should not be allowed to make up the rules that govern their own expenses and communication. There should be an independent commission empowered to oversee and regulate.

·        There should be comparison with civil servants in how these matters are handled.

·         It should be a criminal offence to knowingly overclaim - just as it is a criminal offence to knowingly overclaim benefits.

·         Accommodation: when MPs need to stay away from home overnight:

They should be paid a flat-rate overnight allowance.

The allowance would pay for hotel accommodation, but could instead be used for rent. (While many MPs have behaved outrageously, it's unreasonable to ask a good MP to live out of a suitcase).

      The allowance should only be paid for the nights that the MP needs to be in the capital.

 As a possible alternative to the above, we would ask the Kelly committee to consider the possibility of providing MPs who live outside London with apartments in London.

The statement was endorsed by Councillor Adrian Ramsay, Deputy Leader of the Green Party nationally and Parliamentary Candidate for Norwich South.

Adrian Ramsay said:

"We need a transparent system that is designed and monitored by an independent body. This is necessary to ensure the system is not abused and to help restore public confidence in Parliament. I have been shocked and appalled by the way many MPs have abused the current system. The new system must be tighter, stop MPs claiming more than they need to and stop them profiting over second homes. The proposals that the Westminster party leaders came up with earlier in the week do not go far enough."

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