MPs profit from the London housing market using taxpayers money, which is why these people who live in commuting distance use the perk to fund a house even when they don't need really need it. What is wrong is not so much the perk but the fact that on the sale of the house all the money goes into their pockets, when a large proportion of it should be returned to the taxpayer. There should be no large profit on buying a house using taxpayers money - only on the proportion of it that their wages contributed to the purchase. Depending on how the house is purchased this could be nothing.

David Smith, Stourbridge, UK

I can understand the concerns about this but have to say quite simply if you are in business you claim all of your entitlements, these allowances are there so why shouldnt they be claimed. Perhaps they should not be there but remove them before you blame people for taking what is made available to them.
No one has done anything wrong and I know the hours some of the MP's mentioned work and can understand the need for a local to westminster place. The issue must be compared to the out put of these MP's and the number of commons attended sessions.

Vic Annells, Braintree, UK

The electoral reform society should place on ALL voting forms

NONE OF THE ABOVE (These)

Then we could see what people think.

Mike Firth, Leeds, UK

The mire that is British politics. On every side, greedy, disingenuous when not actually dis-honest, and shameless.

We suffer their endless whining in the media, complaining how so many of them are 'good honest people doing their best for society', when in fact the few who might be 'decent' have no power (or perhaps no interest because they "play the system" in a different way) to prevent the misuse and abuse of the electorate at large. "We didn't know it was going on". How long before we next hear the pleadings for public funding of political parties? It will, we will be told, be the only way to ensure the quality political system we enjoy - we endure - now.

Where is the transparency? Where is the integrity? Where is the honesty?

The Cheshire cat smiles of parliamentarians relishing the thought of the tax-payer handing over his or her pay cheque to fund this failing 'elite' makes me sick to my stomach.

Phillip , London , UK

The allowance is greater than the total starting salary of a newly qualified nurse, I would be delighted to have the terms and conditions of any one of our MP's. Greed of the highest order.

Lou Davis, Derby, UK

If some of these MP's think commuting is so terrible, all the better reason why they should be expected to do it. That way they may push for improvements to the service! Then everyone could benefit

Mike, Nottingham,

What a bunch of scammers these MP's are. They also have the cheek to vote themselves large salary rises well above the miserly amounts they award to the actual UK workers. A revolution is what is needed !.

Simon, London , UK

This is nothing less than fraud and theft. Why are the police not investigating?

Stephen, St. Ives, England

Put a computer in every household (like the french did to replace phone directories), allocate a unique number to all eligible voters, sack all the MPs, keep a staff of civil servants to handle the admin and have all decisions voted on over the internet - true democracy .

Will it ever happen ? I doubt it - too many vested interests amongst the people who run the system and treat the rest of us like mugs.

Peter, Burnley,

These revelations are nothing new. Most of us who take an interest in politics, and particularly the members of Commons estimates committee, are fully aware that this practice has been going on for a number of years. Nothing has been said or done to curb the abuses because almost every single MP is involved. It is only now being brought into the open by good newspaper journalists who, like the general public, are absolutely fed up listening to sanctimonious politicians preaching about pay restraint and personal financial responsibilities, whilst linning their own pockets at the tax payers expense.

pw, Banstead, Surrey

Why do they get all these allowances anyway? Surely it would be better to have a hostel for MPs a short distance from Parliament so that they could stay there rather than travelling home if they were too tired. No money changes hands that way and there's no chance for anyone to fiddle. Don't give them money to employ their family members give them civil servants - much cheaper. Make them account for every penny they spend by producing receipts and limit them to a certain amount only for meals etc like everyone else who claims expenes from their employer. MPs should not be above the law.

JW, Boston, UK

the Keens a 15 mn walk away ...terrible for them.. such inconvenience...but mrs Keen is keen to get back for Eastenders..

dave, london,

The Pig Trough yet again all there snouts are in it...

dave, london,

Considering they have the shortest working year of any of us, they are grossly overpaid.

Parliament should provide hostel type accomodation in the capital, enough for all to stay; (although looking at the average house of commons these days precious few of them are in London. ) This should be free for them to use, no expenses, and give them free economy class travel be it rail road or air, no mileage or 1st class airoplane seats. They are the same as the rest of us, so they tell us.

Then when all this is set up, cut them down by half as we dont need them now our Parliament is run from Brussels.

brenda norwood, York, UK

We definitly have the best MPs money can buy!

Alan, Whitchurch, Hants

I totally agree with RB, I shall not be using my vote at the next general election; to be more precise I shall be 'spoiling' my paper so that I can't be accused of not being bothered to vote - I am bothered but the current system does not provide for people like me

Jenny James, Enfield

Jenny James, London,

As bad as all these reverlations have been how much worse would it be if we find that all these expences are tax free.

Viv, Swansea, Wales

These are the same people who have the gall to call the British National Party 'odious'.

Arthur Lincoln, Lincoln, UK,

Start of by naming the abusers.Let their contituents know the extent of their MPs abuse and perhaps some will be deselected then TAX ALL THEIR INCOME ,EXPENSES AND CAPITAL GAINS AT THE APPROPRIATE RATE. The pigs in the trough must be stopped.

Nigel Ashurst, Leicester, England

The retired should stand for Parliament offering to waive the salary and allowances to wrest this valuable institution away from the 'careerist trotters in the trough' politicians.

Politicians used to mean would be Statesmen who told lies.

And why not have a retrospective tax on all of them? 100% capital tax on properties funded bythe taxpayer would equate to the imposition by Brown of the £5bn a year on pensions. That was retrospective as we all understood that pensions income was to be 'tax-free'.

Damian, Eastbourne,

Such is the integrity of the people who run this country. And we think exporting this type of government improves the world.
What is they say, no one who wants power should be trusted with it?
It's not party poitical my ire of this grubby rummaging through my pockets for cash, they are all guilty, but when they crassly tell the rest of us to buckle down for a recession, tighten our belts or take effective pay cuts this arrogance amazes me.
And they wonder why young people are not turned on to politics.
May be they are, perhaps todays young thug sees his/her future as a politician and is just practicing before s/he moves on to more sophisiticated crime with age, experience and opportunity.

Mike, Newport,

£400,000 = 400+ pairs of night vision goggles for our boys on the front line

Nice going you greedy, selfish people.

Phill, The Wirral, England

They do it because they can. The justification will be that it is much easier to nip down to Kennington than to one of the suburbs. Well, that's true for me too. If however I try to claim an overnight allowance from any of my UK government department clients, it is of course rejected.......and rightly so. They (the staff at the departments) have to commute and see no reason why I, as a consultant, should not so the same. I am subject to the identical restrictions of travel costs (second class, not first) and for our MPs to claim that their need is somehow greater is absurd. IF - and it is a big IF - MPS were regularly in the House (by which I mean all day every day) then there might (and I stress might) be a case. Have you seen how empty the chamber is most of the time???

benjamyn999, Lincolnshire and Juba, UK and Sudan

I am surprised!

Mark, Bton, UK

I am amazed by the way that public opinion does not react to all these scandals!

Does anybody care in UK or is it normal for you to accept all these scams and scandals?

riccardo, brussels,

absolutely disgraceful , MPS need to be monitored as they are obviously have too much power , and are highly corruptable. It's a sad endightment that certain people feel they have the indisputable right to screw the people they supposedly represent.

Kevin, Cambridge, UK

Please dont complain about this issue as MPs know full well that theres nothing you can do about it.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

What a pity it is that those hardworking MPs who display personal integrity are now likely to be "tarred with the same brush" as those who abuse the system for personal profit. It is a disappointing and saddening indictment of some aspects of modern politics; an urgent review is needed to ensure that those who think this type of behaviour is acceptable are reminded of their obligations as our representatives.

Terry Green, Kingston, Canada

Despicable

I commute double that time, for a fraction of their income and that is after they have taxed me for their perks

almost, Saffron Walden,

If an MP has been in the Parliament for 30 years, with an excess expense budget of £50,000 a year, which looks like the norm in today's figures, he/she have had £1.5 Million pounds in excess expenses.

Hence a millionaire by right.

Chris, manchester, UK

Any MP who has a second home funded by the taxpayer should be compelled to sell it when they are voted out or retire. The funds raised from the sale should then go back to the exchequer. So no benefit accrues to the "honorable" member.

Don, harrogate, england

Move government to Stoke-on-Trent. It is far more central and would save the UK billions. it would also focus our MPs on working for us.

Keith Kondakor, Nuneaton,

What do you expect from those who frequent that glorified gentlemen's club they call parliament.

SRB, Abergele, UK

So a significant number of our 'elected representatives' turn out to be spineless lying crooks with their fingers in the till. What a surprise!

Roger Angove, TRURO,

Give each MP a fixed amount then leave it up to him as to how he spends it.
Employing family members, travelling first class or a second home would then be their choice.
Giving extra allowances above their salary only tempts the greedy (and they nearly all are) to get as much money out of the state as possible.
We elect MP's to serve the country not to spend all their time thinking up ways to make more money out of the job.

GJB, SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE

Where does the idea flourish that we get the representatives we deserve?When asked to pick a rotten apple from a barrel of rotten apples it is hardly the voters fault

c adams, hamburg, germany

Ditto VS !!! Ryan thinks that commuting would be "absolutely awful" does she? Then do something about the transport services !!!! The public doesn't have the luxury of simply buying something 'a little closer to work' to avoid the pain of the train, bus, or cycle. What world do these people live in? I have regularly had to commute over the years - it goes with only being able to afford a home in one area, but being forced to work elsewhere. LIVE WITH IT. The Keens need to be forced to pay the money back - even if they paid congestion charge, shared the same car and parked it at Westminster it would have been cheaper. I'm moving overseas permanantly.

David, London (but not for long),

Apply 100% capital gains tax on sale of MP's second properties purchased with acts. Oh and introduce HMRC oversight and a requirement for all expenses to be vetted in accordance with the rigour that applies to the rest of us..

Harry Osbourne, Preston, UK

Does this really surprise us after all that has been exposed recently? Politics is a pig trough, a never ending gravy train at the expense of the public and until there is change, I will not be using my vote......... unless someone cares to buy it !!!!

R.B., Leicester,

How many British troops would be alive now if they had had use of the thousands upon thousands that the Keens and their ilk have chiseled out in expenses? Spare that poor Joan Ryan the need for any "absolutely awful" commuting by not re-electing her.

David Masu, Zürich,

If the money was taken from a company then it would be
"theft" and the person would be dismissed forthwith.
Why can't the Mp sacked for paying his family over £1 m
The mp should pay money back or government should calim
money back . His sons did not do any research or any other
family as well.
also housing allowance should be re-claimed back
peter

peter james , London , UK

All of these MPs should have the whip removed and they should be made to resign. John Beatson is correct - they should be named and shamed and made to explain thier actions to both Parliament and their constituents. How Alan and Ann Keen have the brass neck to make these claims I do not know. Can we not be told how much time these MPs spent in their second residence? Finally, if they stand at the next election it is in the Public's interest that this information be made available to the electorate in the constituency in which they stand.

Ian Burgess, Bristol,

Ten more years of labour and we will be in a line with our biometric passports and id cards collecting our weekly pocket money. Smile your'e on camera !

william, Southampton, UK

It is unfortunate that I cannot say in response to this article: I am shocked. All it has done is confirm my suspicions. There should be - must be - a watchdog with teeth to penalise those MPs who milk the systems.

Derek Smith, Brighton, UK

"commuting could be absolutely awful"... tell me one thing and be done with it - that the average taxpayer is an absolute mug, and is being taken for a ride. If you have a job, want a decent life and education for your family, I feel this is not really the country for you :(

VS, St. Albans, Herts

wrong, mark. it's their money now. all we can do is vote them out at the next election.
what crooks!

grindles, London, england

Unfortunately we get the representatives we deserve.

Stuart, Manchester, England

This is our money they are spending and if true, then this is a clear abuse of power. I want to hear what Alan and Ann Keen and others have to say to justify claiming this espense. By the sounds of it expense budgets are nothing more than targets for some MP's. No wonder that MP's generate little or no respect amongst the electorate when they behave in this way. Corporations big and small expect their employees to justify their expense claims with appropriate receipts. By the sounds of it, MP's are a law unto themselves. It is about time this was stopped and MP's made accountable to the electorate with audited income & expenditure accounts filed and available for public scrutiny.

Giuseppe Bournat, Lytham St Annes, UK

name and shame them to the police

john winston beatson, sheffield, england

Parliamentary hours were changed to daytime working hours to allow for a normal homelife for MPs. There is therefore absolutely no excuse for bleeding the poor taxpayer in this way.

It IS our money after all!

MarkS, Leeds,