So without my knowledge, my salary is taken to pay for a mortgage on several properties I don't own, fit the house out with furniture and then get nothing back when the house is sold ? Not even a blender? This sounds like fraud, do you think I should go to the Police about it?

Lynda, Manchester,

I hear that MPs want to top up their salary to £100k plus to replace their expenses system. They just don't get it, do they? People won't tolerate MPs having their lucrative expenses replaced with a salary increase because MPs simply are not worth it. They are parasites who lie, cheat and enrich themselves at every opportunity at our expense, so how can the likes of Martin Salter (Labour MP for Reading West) even begin to compare himself to headteachers, deputy headteachers etc. His comments are an insult to these hard working people. The truth is that MPs should all be sacked for their gross incompetence and forced to pay back the money they have filched from the tax payer.

MPs have earned their reputation with the public and therefore they deserve it. Power corrupts, as they say! And it isn't because we, the public, don't understand what MPs do; it's because we're sick of paying through the nose for a bunch of wasters.

Micky, York,

Four legs good.

Two legs BETTER.

Andy, Surrey,

Hmm. What happens to all this stuff when they are no longer an MP or when it's a bit out of date but still working - local charity shop? local authority furniture store for the really hard up? Boot sale? - thought not.

Denise, Colchester,

I wonder how many MP's purchased a new kitchen shortly before selling their home at an enhanced value.

C Byrne, Pinner, UK

Do other readers think, like I do, that there will be a backlash (similar to the Poll Tax riots of 1990 and May Day protest of 2001) against what is going on in this country?

Grant, Bristol, England

Now that this scam has been revealed let us have a list of M.P.'s who have profited from this and how much they have claimed.

Allan Orchard, Lincolnshire, U.K.

I assume from this that shortly servicemen sent on unaccompanied tours can re-equip a second home while they are away.

John Moore, Joué, France

Like the majority of tax payers, I feel outrage at the expenses available to MPs to fund a second home, however, many would be less angry if rules were introduced requiring the expenses to be returned from any profit made when the second home was sold.

Patricia Thornton, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

New labour has completely betrayed the working classes. It has neglected the working class who are really struggling to make ends meet at the moment, with increase in prices everywhere! They can no longer afford the rising fuel bills and the unbelievable petrol prices; it seems so many ordinary people are really struggling to meet their bills; just to stand still.
Meanwhile these ordinary people observe massive profits for the utility companies, and the petrol companies and the massive wage increases for the fat cats leading these companies. Not to mention MP's claiming incredible wage increases and expenses. It is just sickening! New Labour has sucked the working people dry with unprecedented taxes, including false green taxes and the like and the people of this nation no longer have any faith in the credibility of this Government. This is a false New Labour Government who has sold its soul to the devil and doesn't care less about the struggles of ordinary working class people.

Simon Icke, Aylesbury , UK

This is a measure of the contempt these crooks and charlatans have for the rest of us in the country. But then surely that's no secret - politicians have been treating the electorate as idiots for the past thirty years or so.

stephen, wakefield, uk/yorkshire

I am not an accountant but this expense lark by MPs seems to to me to be one of the biggest tax scams in history. They claim up to double their basic salary in expenses to cover second homes ,food, furniture, partners as secretarys, kitchens and not forgetting sons at University (In most cases well over £100,000 and I assume tax free giving a tax saving of £40,000+).They also then obviously draw their MPs salary with constant complaints that they are underpaid for what they do. Lets also not forget the massive pension and the numerious times that the commons is half empty with I assume the absent MPs at home spending their monthly tax free windfalls.
They are not the fools we are for letting people that we have given ultimate trust to get away with it.
As I work away from home it is my intention to ask my employer for a 50% wage cut and make it up on tax free expenses. Lets all jump on the rich gravy train !

clive, ashford, kent

I feel absolutely outraged that MP's are allowed to claim such oversized allowances, I had to furnish my house, purchase my own tools for work, pay all my own bills, and this is after I've paid my Income Tax which these bounders are spending at a rate faster than I can earn it for them.
This has got to STOP!!!!!
I recently watched a film "V for Vendetta" it gives a very clear insight into the way this country is going down the pan

Mick, Norwich, England

Can I claim my salary as expenses and get all tax free then?
I basically use all that on my home, Bills, morgage, food etc.

Daniel, London, England

I work in an NHS hospital in London and we also have a 'John Lewis list'. After 25 years of continuous service I get a £50 John Lewis voucher. So, just another 4975 years to go and that kitchen will be mine!

John, London,

I'm self employed and had a wooden outbuilding put up to use as an office which I figured would be cheaper in the long run than renting at over £500 pcm and would cut the travel time and costs. I also had water and electricity laid on so I could work there.
The tax office said none of this was a valid business expense so I couldn't even claim just tax relief on it against my tax bill, let alone get the whole thing paid for by the public!!! So why should MPs be given handouts of the whole cost of fitting out a second home when the rest of us have to pay for a place to work out of our taxed income?

Mary, Milton Keynes,

I work in an NHS hospital in London and we also have a 'John Lewis list'. After 25 years of continuous service I got a £50 John Lewis voucher. So, only another 4975 years to go and that kitchen will be mine! But will Shaker still be in fashion?

John, London,

Why can't these sums be treated as loans and repaid when the MP sells the second home.

Do MPs pay capital gains when they sell their second home?

I have a feeling that I already know the answer.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

I find myself developing a certain fondness for Derek Conway, MP: without his exposure we would not have been treated to the revelations so far.
I begin to see why Speaker Martin and colleagues favoured the "slow boat to China" speed of internal enquiry: to enable the dust to settle, and allow other culprits to bury evidence?
Purely hypothetically, I imagine all these 'second home allowances' would come in very handy if your sons, daughters, (or Research assistants, even) needed to furnish their personal accommodation.
But just imagine this scaled up to the potential Euro MP or Commissioner level of graft!
The £60k MP salary seems to be 'basic' entry: Conway, it was reported, lost a committee place and thus £13,000 p.a. - at that rate you get elected, get yourself onto 2 or 3 committees to reach £100k: which also provides a glorious excuse not to be in the elected Chamber - nobody knows where you are!

MikeM, St. Albans, England

This is an outrage. If I chose to take a job that required me to live in London for part of the week, the only additional funding I'd get would be (at best) a London weighting allowance - I'd be expected to fund myself - and quite rightly so as nobody would be forcing me into that job choice.

Why should we, the taxpayers, fund second homes for people who - judging from TV reports showing empty benches in the House of Commons for most of the week - are NOT even working in London when they claim to be???

J Kirk, Derby, UK

I notice how this article makes no assertion (or even an estimate) of how much MPs ACTUALLY claim, just what they are ALLOWED to claim.

Some people in this country want two mutually exclusive things:

1) To have good MPs doing good jobs, and
2) To not have to pay them very much.

It is naive to think that these two can go hand-in-hand: if you want good MPs you've got to pay for them, end of story.

John, Durham, UK

Being a politician should not be about the financial rewards. Rather it should be a kind of vocation - a desire to follow one's political beliefs - to influence political thoughts and actions - to serve and make a difference.
Perhaps we would be better served if a flat rate salary (indepenently assessed), together with a living allowance (better still provided by a suite of rooms in an apartment block owned by parliament) for those who live more than say 60 miles from Westminster. Secretarial services could be provided from a secretarial 'pool', funded by the political parties, and constituency offices and services also provided by the local political party. Other expenses to be carefully audited by an independent body against a realistic scale.
All to be fully open to the public scrutiny.
Unless some urgent and radical examination of, and adjustment to the present system is implemented (let's put a time limit of say 6 months on it) current contempt for MPs will grow.

Jerry Latham, Uttoxeter, England

We have young men dying in Iraq because of underfunding, yet money can be squandered on M.P.'s expenses.

My young daughter and her partner both work hard to bring up their two kids. There are many other young couples in the same boat, who would give the world for a new kitchen or a TV.

We have old people living in poverty. The list is endless.

How can it be, that when we pay the mortgage on an MP's house, the MP picks up the difference when it is sold?
What happens to the furniture, TVs and other things which are bought, at taxpayers expense, when the MP retires or loses his or her seat. Would I be a cynic to suggest that no doubt the new stuff would have already found its way to their primary household.

No wonder they wanted to be exempt from the FOI.


R.W.Gough

RobertW. Gough, Ayr, Scotland.

These politicians aren't out of touch with "ordinary" people . . . they have got themselves on a gravy train and will milk it (if that is synonymous with gravy) for whatever they are allowed to get away with. The vast majority were, pre election, ordinary people who now have a chance to make hay while the sun shines.
When they fail to be re- elected . . . what happens to all goodies they have accumulated . . . given to charity . . . dream on!

H. Turner, Bolton, Lancashire

Buy a council tower block of flats, furnish it 'how the other half lives', charge MPs council rate rents. No 'second home' allowances, no expenses. They might, just might begin to understand what their greed, stupidity and their tax policies mean to middle England.

Mike, Exeter, England

What happens to all these electronic purchases and furnishings when an MP loses their seat? Wish I could walk away from a job with a van full of goodies :-)

Stephen, Cumbria,

And now we know what nearly all MPs can claim. These expenses are simply immoral and worse so when funds are unnecessarily claimed and misdirected. Again, I say, that all MPs (without exceptions) should have their finances investigated and where appropriate, prosecuted.

Rodney Barker, Lincolnshire, UK

Reduce the amount they can claim, then they won't be able to claim the amounts stated. Better still, as all properties have kitchens and bathroom, don't let them claim for any of it, and as they are so busy they don't have time to watch the TV, so no need for them either. They can get an mp3 player from Tesco for £10, so no need for an expensive hi-fi. Why are we paying for their food? No wonder there is always a queue to be an MP!

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

£22,000 is a ludicrous sum of money! Who buys a £10,000 kitchen each year, or a £6,000 bathroom...each year?! Who spends £22,000 a year on the general upkeep of their home...EACH YEAR?!!! There's a difference between having enough money to be able to maintain a second home and having £22,000 tax payers money to buy the latest gadgets. It's a ridiculous situation.

I'm sure (i hope), having faith in our political system on the whole, that most are not claiming the maximum allowances...it's the system thats the problem - it allows the greedy politicians to take advantage and tarnishes the whole of politics. You don't need a plasma tv to attend parliament!

Kevin, Norwich, UK

Lets call a halt to this now.
We cannot afford both so I propose we set an ultimatum. Either the EC goes or Westminster as we do not need both sets of useless incompetant pigs with their snouts in the trough

Mike, Barnstaple, England

I have work hard as a manual worker for forty years but due to companies pushing for higher productivity now have osteoarthritis in both knees. I got finished by the company I once worked for because I could no longer keep up with production and was in absolute pain while still working but of cause that goes not matter in today’s society.

I have but hundreds of pounds of my own money into training myself, in case I got finished but still need more training. I have had some training but still need more because of my age and having to totally retrain. It is very hard to get a job but there are so many restrictions put in your way, you almost have to beg for money for training. There is a very low limit to what you can claim for retraining. We get £3.52p benefit increase in April 2008, which will not even pay for the increase in council tax.

I used to be proud too be British. but the way, people with disabilities are treated in this country is appalling when trying to get back into work. By the way I have paid taxes for forty years.

Then of course there is MPs: Money for honours, Claims for second homes, relatives paid for out of an MPs' allowances and that’s just what we know about.

geoff, scunthorpe, north lincolnshire

I lost my job under this government as part of the Civil Service Cuts. I wasn't eligible for Job Seekers allowance due to some savings I had. I eventually found found new employment without the help of anybody, although the salary was a lot less than I had been on previously. Whilst unemployed I still had to pay my mortgage and household bills. I currently earn slightly more than the allowances MP's are allowed to claim in addition to their salary. They have never had my vote and I only hope that come the next General Election the British public see them for what they really are, and vote them out. I am not saying that the Conservatives will be any better, but they surely cannot be any worse. Since 1997 I have had less disposable income than any other time in recnt history due to taxes and the general cost of living.

MB, South Derbyshire, UK

These things are what most of us will never acheive by hard work and toil and they are not expenses they are perks, dishonestly gained at that. SHAME SAME SHAME Oh grasping ones.

David, Warton, Lancs

Roger Fletcher, Surrey Good idea but they would probably buy a very expensive outfit. Whereas they should buy something akin to University accommodation; that about all Mps are fit for! Or Travelodges as suggested by Bob Christie, Burntisland, Fife but that seems a bit extravagant.
Alexander, Victoria raises an interesting point re Westminster MP's and MEP's in Strasbourg.
Surely Parliamentary reform should start with being qualified for the job. I suggest that profession or trade qualifications should be essential with proof of having SUCCESSFUL employment in the real world for at least 5 years. Disqualification should include financial interests that interfere with their duty such as EU Pensions that would be lost if the holder voted against EU legislation (virtually everything now the Lisbon Constitreaty in the bag, and it is now Co. UK, EU). Previous misdemeanors and criminal charges (e.g drunk in charge), inability to get a CC, etc. NO CHANCE though of publication or law.

M. Cawdery, Portadown, UK (if it now exists)

Has anyone else noticed they can claim for a washer dryer, a washing machijne and a tumble dryer? Do they submit dry cleaning bills as well? I would love to see someone like Peter Mandelson's expense bills......

Matt J, London, UK

What do they actually do to deserve these benefits? It would be interesting to see how many of the "Down with Priveledge" Labour MPs are taking full advantage of this allowance scheme

Richard Thornely, Aldershot, UK

A commonly expressed justification for MPs' abuse of the expenses system is that they are under-paid in relation to equivalent private sector workers. Leaving aside the extraordinary conceit that underpins this argument (which posits fraud as a legitimate means of gaining one's 'entitlement'), perhaps it's time for a debate on precisely which private sector workers MPs ought to be compared to?

MPs have been quoted as suggesting that they are good value compared to CEO's earning £100,000. I must say, having worked in Parliament and in the private sector, I find it hard to accept this comparison. Whatever their virtures (and they do have some, folks), your average backbench MP is a far less qualified, able or hardworking figure than any CEO I've ever encountered. Staying late drinking in Stranger's Bar in order to vote (in accordance with the Whips instructions) is not quite the same as working late running a large corporation!

Bill Car, LONDON, UK

My own MP's response to my request for information about what MPs can claim for out of allowances and expenses was that it "It is reasonable to expect that accommodation will be provided for them (MPs)" and that "it would be expected that the normal domestic items would be included" in any rented, hotel or purchased accommodation. While most of us pay for our living costs out of our own income, he thinks it reasonable for MPs to be paid once from their salaries and then reimbursed for any living costs from allowances and expense claims. So, what do MPs pay for out of their generous salaries? Very little, it seems. It must be like winning the lottery each week!

Terry B, Bath, Somerset

We would also like the frequency at which items can be charged. My fridge and freezer are many years old. What is stopping any dishonest practices here. Can items be charged without checking the failure of previos items, or are they jusy fashion accessories.

KW, Bognor Regis, England

The existence of the John Lewis list is surprising and shocking.
It does however highlight another reason why our elected representatives seem so out of touch with ordinary folks.
Perhaps as its tax payers money there should be a more reasonable list.
Let us say an IKEA list? (they do kitchens)
This would ensure that the politicians learn some hands on skills.

dave, chorley, UK

Are we to see the John Lewis list given to the employees of the government that put their lives on the line for these imbeciles and their decisions ?

Im talking about the armed services.

Married quarters in most cases nothing short of slums.

Yet these wasters get all this.

REVOLUTION NOW !!!

KICK THESE SELF SERVING SCUM OUT OF OFFICE !!!

paul, swindon,

Absolutely outrageous

Brian, Cheshire, UK

Having MPs decide how to manage themselves and their finances is akin to asking Turkeys to vote for Christmas. Why not (Ian from Norwich) have all public sector personnel use the same claim proceedure such as the HM forces? If there was a uniformed proceedure I suspect that MPs expenses would be transparent and not be used to subsidise their income and our honourable forces would find their claim system easier and more favourable to use.
As to Amy's (Stourport) view, it's all very well saying that MPs don't earn as much as other professions but their vocation is down to choice and ability as with all vocations. As part of their position they should be held to the highest standards which means that their income should be transparant.
Next time we vote, ask you would be willing to pay them for a year's work. . . if you think the person isn't worth the money, or you wouldn't want to represent your family to the rest of your country then find someone else. Perhaps it should be you?

MStickley, London,

Why should the taxpayer pay for the upkeep and decoration of these second homes ? I am apalled that we the tax paying public seem to do nothing about this injustice.

If this was France they would be out on the streets demanding the MP's pay for this out of their own pocket afterall it's their home

Mark, Plymouth,

Politicians today are morally bankrupt , greedy parasites . These perks attract entirely the wrong sort of people . They deserve to be thrown out .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

I think it is unfair that the tax payer should be paying for new kitchens and appliances which don't revert to the state.

A much more sensible idea would be for government to buy a large block of accomodation in Westminster. It would soon pay itself back when you consider £22K for the items listed above + London rent per MP.

Roger Fletcher, Surrey,

Can they claim the 'john lewis list' items in addition to eheir annual second home allowance of £22,000? Why are they not taxed on both the 'list' items and their £22,000 annually? Why don't they have to produce receipts first? What hapens when they sell their 'second' homes? Do they pay any tax, such as capital gains, on the profit? And if they act like that in the UK, what is happening in Brussels? I hear the uk tax man is to have powers tro enter people's homes to check their tax returns, better start with the uk mps.
They are seem a high class role model for swindlers.

helen, Norwich,

Every tax payer can't afford to shop in John Lewis so why should the tax they pay be used in this way. The John Lewis List? How about "The Argos List" to reduce those expenses!

Dave, Newcastle, UK

With most MPs in London for only 3 nights a week why should they be paid for a second home? Thousands, no tens of thousands of ordinary workers spend 3 or 4 nights away from home week in and week out and can only claim for overnight hotel and modest meals, all against receipts. There is no shortage of potential candidates for MP so why should they be any different?

John Rushton, Chippenham,

Absolutely scandalous!
This corruption can be halted at a stroke by taking a couple of Travelodges in London (and Ednburgh) into public ownership and used to provide accommodation for ALL MP's and MSP's.
If they do not wish to stay there when the Parliaments are sitting then they meet their own accommodation costs from their already adequate salaries.
And please, no nonsense from them about giving up all these expenses allowances in return for a£160 daily allowance.

Bob Christie, Burntisland, Fife

Even parliaments finance department knows not to trust these greedy little spivs. I wish I could get my nose stuck into this golden trough.

Susan, Barry, S Wales

They should pay tax on it. I would have to earn £1500 before I had £750 in my hand to buy a tv. Are we going to see the receipts for all this? I wonder how many of them have bought a £250 telly and then claimed £750 for it? They're just the same as benefit fraudsters, the police should investigate the lot of them.

Ashley Greenup, Carlisle,

Question; can Britain afford two sets of politicians plundering public tax payers money? Westminster MP's and MEP's in Strasbourg.
In theory MP's are accountable, however by setting the bar too high there is little point, and certainty NO incentive to spent prudently for the taxpayer and every incentive to spend lavishly on them selves. The strength of ethical character or duty of care appears absent in the modern party politician.
With this mentality and culture, there can be not doubt it is the same lack of respect for, or fear of accountability and responsibility that debates and votes are held, on the legislation. Costing the citizens of Britain dearly in financial, cultural , human values and the levels of service provided to them.
Britain will achieve democracy ONLY when government becomes with TRUE transparency and accountable.

Alexander, Victoria,

I agree the figures are excessive. However, unlike most jobs where you work in one place and live in another, being an MP you have to live and work in your constituency some of the time and in central London at others. MPs are given this money to finance the second London place (so I believe), not some other house in France. I think the report is misleading in that regard. In the grand scale of things, they still earn less than top lawyers, accountants, or even NHS doctors.

Amy, Stourport,

WHAT AN OUTRAGE!

nick, london,

I read this list in total disbelief, how can these parasites make most of the country scrape and scrabble for money and award themselves the extravagant items on this list, its time for a change in how this country is run, kick all these conmen/women out, why not give the power to the people, in this day and age of the internet, have a voting console in every house, then we can vote on the issues instead of these scammers sitting, looking bored and getting paid vast amounts to do.

Steven Hamilton, Derby , Debyshire

Can you tell me if any of my very hard earned taxes have been paying for this?

MarkS, Leeds,

This sort of blatant misuse of public money is a scandal.
In HM Forces we are required to produce proof of expenditure for items costing pence in comparison to the claims of our supposed 'betters'. There are many instances where service personal have found themselves unable to claim back money they have genuinely expended on duty, simply because of the difficult claims system.
It is bad enough for us to stomach a part-time armed forces minister [!] but how dare our politicians behave in this manner when service personal remain short of necessary equipment, and some are still living in substandard housing conditions.
This latest revelation simply proves what is becoming clearer each time another financial scandal comes to light, that such things as honesty and integrity, even at the highest levels, are seemingly non-existant; and worse, that our politicians cannot be trusted.

Ian, Norwich, UK

It is absolutely sickening, I work in the NHS surrounded by daily budget cuts, "scaling back" of services, staff cuts and short term short sighted "efficiency" drives, and in the face of MP's getting rich off our taxes - this is so so wrong.

I have written to my MP - Glenda Jackson twice about this issue and received no reply, I also wrote to Gordon Brown, again no reply, Not only do MP's decided their own pay, perks and expenses, they also decide on how the system should be "reformed" and then they vote on their own pay rises.

Until there is truly Independent scrutiny of expenses and INDEPENDENT reform I will have no trust in whatever they decide about how they get fat on my taxes.

The worse thing about all this is how we love to preech to others about our civilised democracy - not only is the expenses on a par with a plundering regime - when you exercise your right to complain about it to your MP - three times! - you get no reply.

NM, London, UK

If 38 items are kept secret, how many others are not secret?

CHRIS MILES, EXETER, uk

Why is there even a discussion about this? Surely - as is the case for the rest of us - they should be paid a salary and spend their money accordingly.

No one else can ask their employer to buy them a new TV and cover the costs of a new kitchen, so why we are expected to accept that MPs do is beyond me.

Michael, Liverpool, England

The trough in all its glory. The UK is basically a well developed EU (4 countries acting as one) looks like the perks are just as good for those in charge.

Graeme, Edinburgh,

Why am I not surprised?

Peter Hastings, Folkestone, England

MP's should be seen to be honest and this is not. And in a second home too. Disgraceful. I am not politically biased but am pleased this has been found out and will look for the cessation of these absurdities now.

Buster, Birmingham,