Canadian MP's make a base salary of $69,564. As well, each MP has a non-taxable expense allowance of $22,950 MPs also get a housing allowance of $12,000 for accommodation in Ottawa . So uur MPS get about half this proposed expense amount. Remember Canada is 5000 miles & 6 time zones across

Jason Pearson, Toronto, Canada

One assumes the Guy Fawkes comments are in jest. His attempt on Parliament & King was NOT for not economic, democratic or over spending but religious reasons. He ranks up there with Cromwell, Osama and the Inquisition. He is not the classic English defender of the common man that was Robin Hood

Jason Pearson, Toronto, Canada

A couple of thousand a year to keep the poor families afloat!
Forty thousand for MPs because they have become used to it?
What a sorry disgraceful bunch!!

Jim, Prudhoe, England

I'd go for option 3, but also on a per diem basis, that way some of them might consider actually going to work a bit more.

Hibbo, Dundee,

Try to influence anyone you know who doesn't vote to do what we were told by our general studies master at school. If you do not like either MP always vote for number two. That way the incumbent will always be replaced at each election thereby halving his salary as you will be in the majority.

David Cage, Highworth, Wilts UK

How is it possible for our greedy MPs' to justify giving themselves such a huge pay rise when we have Nurses, Police and other public sector workers' being told that their demands for decent pay rises/wages is not only unjustified, but unaffordable.

Richard Shannon, Sittingbourne, UK

Students from outside a University's town or city are provided with frugal but perfectly adequate accommodtion in subsidised apartment blocks. Why can't MPs requiring a base in London be offered much the same...? - WITHOUT any personal ownership, salary rise OR increased allowances...!

John Jay, Walton on Thames, UK

Most of the abuse of the system seems to relate to second homes in London. As taxpayers we subsidize the purchase and upgrade of these for MPs who can then sell them on at a profit.

Why don't we provide state-owned london accomodation for MPs? That way they cannot profit from it. Or a hotel?

Mart, London, UK

Shameful.

W Smith, Manchester,

For goodness sake get a grip before it is too late for responsible democracy in the UK.

Jim Mac, London,

How hypocritical. They are telling us to accept 2% pay rise when they want £40,000, which is well above the national average pay, plus what ever they get. Where is the logic. They have crossed the boundary of shame.

adam, colchester, uk

Does an MP's job description really justify a salary as high as 61,820 pounds? It does not appear to at first glance.

A Fossett, Farnborough, England

How distasteful!

We are about to embark on one of the rockiest economic periods for many years and have been told that we should "tighten our belts", and our MPs are blithely pushing for yet more cash.

Some would suggest "snouts in trough"!

matthew, London, United Kingdom

I dont see a problem with claiming expenses for a second home in London, as long as all the expenses are paid back with interest rolled up out of the profit when the property is sold. Its only fair.

scott, southampton,

Why should the small business owner bother to collect his receipts for the accountant or even submit a tax form when there is such blatant proteering and tax evasion from our representatives?

HMRC should impose the same system on everyone. Enterprise within MPs' ranks stinks of self enrichment.

Edwin, Bucharest,

If MPs are currently using tax payers money to pay for a second home mortgage. Who owns the property when that MP loses his job in an election, and if the mortgage is not paid off what happens to the property? Do the taxpayers get their money back?
Just wondering.

Tommy, Southend, England

A lot of people are angry about this and so many things but all we do is let off steam on variuos internet forums and down the pub. E-mail your MP, write to them, turn up at their surgeries (if they don't have face-to-face meetings with their constituents demand they start doing it) MAKE THEM LISTEN

DC, doncaster, uk

Isn't it time to start again? The current rules and regulations concerning expenses, housing, staff, etc. have produced an impenetrable mess over the years.
Pay them a fixed salary. Let them sign in daily. House them cheaply. If they don't like it they can resign.

D.Henry, Edinburgh, Scotland UK

An absolute scandal. One rule for MPs, another for the rest. We keep hearing that MPs know how the country is suffering at the moment. I don't think so somehow. Unbelievable.

Chris, Bath, Somerset

Surey such a move would be massively damaging to inflation. Either pay rises are a danger or they are not, and if not, why then were the plice refused a meagre pay rise? No wage increase for MP's and criminal prosecution for those found stealing is the only way to win back any trust.

Ross Liversidge, Ripon, UK

Enough already!

Dave, Chorley, UK

Hopefully this greedy attempt by MPs to further line their own pockets at about the worst time in the economic cycle will backfire big time. Of the suggestions so far, an adapted council block of some description in which all MPs are housed sounds the best. Email your MP expressing outrage, now!

George, Brighton, UK

I used to work for the Government and was posted overseas, and we were allocated a free Government-owned 3-bedroom flat. It was perfectly adequate. After our stint we handed it back, they slapped a coat of fresh magnolia paint on the walls, and it was ready for the next people. Easy.

Chris K, Cheltenham, UK

Vote B N P!

Steve, BLACKBURN,

Greedy Greedy Greedy. They are all as bad as each other, and they vote on their own pay and perks while telling everyone else to tighten their belts

martin, reading, berkshire

Get rid of the parasitic lot of them
I'm absolutely digusted with them.

I. for one, wont be voting
me Martin has just wasted £100,000 of our money on a case he couldnt win.
It's obvious that he doesnt care a 'fig' about what the public thinks as he fills his pockets full of our cash

Graham, Swansea, UK

Rod from London has the right idea. If MPs are so worried about their addresses becoming public knowledge, providing them with their own block of flats would be an ideal solution. Easy to secure and control, and avoiding the suggestion of private gain from public expense.

Paul, Manchester,

This is a disgrace!

Dean, Southampton, England

Where MPs have used public money to pay the mortgage, when an MP sells the property the %of the mortgage paid by the state then the same % of the house price should be returned to the state.

Stephen, St. Ives, England

Service days : Lead by example - never ask someone to do something you are not prepared to do yourself.

wills, Soton, UK

With power being transferred to the EU and the regions there is simply no need for 646 MPs cut the numbers to 200.

Stephen, St. Ives, England

They obviously have no shame in their demands whilst advocating the general populace to 'tighten your belts otherwise there will be a fuelling of inflation'. Why do we put up with this? Unfortunately the BNP are beginning to look like an increasingly attractive alternative to shake things up.

P. Kelly, Beverley, UK

When, and only when, there is a shortage of applicants for membership of the House of Commons should we, their paymasters, consider salary increases.

Dr Harry Buckland, Grimsby, NE Lincs

Why doesn't Parliament just buy a block of apartments for all MPs and Lords and let them use it as their London residence?

Perhaps Ministers could have a seperate building owing to the incresed security needs.

Rod, London,

In protest I am not going to vote. When less than 50% of the popluation does not vote in national elections then Parliament will have lost the confidence of the people its supposed to represent. It is alright for Labour to raise taxes but not to claim it back on expenses.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

Second "homes" should be rented or bought by the Treasury to be used for MPs whilst they are in the house. When they are sacked or retire the homes can be sold and the proceeds repaid to the treasury. i.e. taxpayer. Fair for all.

John Smith, Manchester, uk

This is theft of the public purse - either properties should be owned by Parliament or MPs should stay in basic hotels. Instead of £60,000 per annum, per diem or better still per hour should be paid - it seems that some MPs spend little or no time in the HoP yet claim full salary and expenses

Andy, london,

This is an obscenity, proving that the absolute power of Parliament is corrupt. It is all the more obscene when ordinary pensioners are struggling on what is one of the meanest state pension systems in western Europe and are facing the distinct prospect of household energy bills rising by 40%.

Barry Oakley, Stone, England

MPs should be paid the national min wage plus an attendance allowance paid pro rata on the amount of times they attend in the house. Mps living outside london should receive a fixed allowance based upon local rent whilst mps living within london should receive nothing
pete

peter, york, uk

Why cannot each constituency in the country (outside London)buy a property in London which the encumbent MP for that constituency then rents? This means that there would be far less sense of MPs cashing in on their position and would give those who voted for them a sense of 'ownership'.

Alice J McCabe, Doncaster, UK

Trouble is, Sam, they are not accountable because MPs of all parties are helping themselves to all our money. None of them are going to vote against it. Look at their reaction to the insistance that we see what they claim for- another increase in their salaries. We need a new anti -corruption party

paul, Manchester, England

Again the Labour MP;s and other MP;s show us all that the only thinh they are interested in is how much money they can sponge off the taxpayres. This really is disgusting behaviour and they should instead pay for their own 2nd homes.

Kevin, London, UK

I love how MPs just have no sense of reality. It's like Big Brother, except in this game, everyone of the contestants or MPs wins vast amounts of cash for just turning up. I think i want to be an MP too...

Howard, Ealing,

I have heard a lot of good ideas about how politicians should be housed when in London, I personally favour the service mens empty barracks, but lets face it, they will vote themselves the snouts in trough again, we have got to decide to stick to our principles and vote them out by tactical voting.

Christine, Barnstaple, England

Never better served than by oneself!
Pure hypocrisy when poverty is taking over the country.
But that doesn't matter, as Mr Speaker says, the money is for me, me, and myself.
The poor can die in the street, in the cold, but please don't do it to fast as we still want your money

lauren, London, Uk

I would have no issues with politicians having an expense allowance for second properties if, at the end of their parliamentary careers or when they eventually sell the property, the treasury then takes the proceeds for the country, less interest on their original stake!!

Ken, Brighouse, Brighouse, W Yorks

This is completely outrageous. Expenses must be "justified" and scrutinised and should be an exception NOT the rule. To bundle the max sum into a permanent (increasing) salary burden onto taxpayers is unacceptable. A clear separation of costs must be preserved for full scrutiny.
Stephen, St.Albans

Stephen Parrett, St Albans, Herts

We have 646 MPs in Parliament, this x 40,000 comes to £25,840,000 per year or £260 million over ten years.

Why build flats when this scheme's much more expensive? People are suffering & this is how our little piggy MPs behave. Not in my name, there's no democracy here, time to emigrate I want out

Graham, St. Albans, uk

Welcome to the Houseof Corruption-parliament. There should be no such thing as career politicians -hat breeds corruption. MPs should should be allowed to serve twice and no more; any longer and they seem to forget they are there to serve us, not themselves.

paul, Manchester, England

Is this value for money? I think not. Get them all to stay in the Travel Lodge, it'll work out a lot cheaper for the taxpayer.

Neil, Bath, England

WITH SALARIES OF 61,000 POUNDS plus NORMAL EXPENSES MOSTLY EMPLOYING RELATIVES, why are MPs to get this additional rise. Yes it will be taxed, BUT this means that their Pension calculations based on a very rewarding Pension Final Salary basis, will increase hughly, so a win win rise for MP's again

Chris, Bonns, France

I bet Ann Keen can't wait.

Richard Hawkins, LONDON,

This is fraudulent and utterly shameful coming as it does on the back of government demands that the everyone else tighten their pursestrings and accept pay rises that fail to reflect the rise in the cost of living. A truly independent review is long overdue - make them accountable. Truly sickening

Chris, London,

Paul, Coventry. Even better, move Parliament every 10 years to a different town in need of upgrade - just watch how quickly regeneration can take place. The current Palace of Westminster could then become a theme museum to past non-money grubbing MPs who've actually had democracy at heart.

Graham, Oxford, UK

This is legalised theft. I will vote for whoever promises to completely overhaul this sytem and stop the greed.

judy, Liverpool, England

Wouldn't the simplest and greatest saving be to remove the excessive number of scottish MPs? After all, they've already got their own parliament.

Peter, Genova, Italy

Seems to me all our politicians are getting far too comfortable in Westminster.
How about moving Parliament to the Old Battersea Power Station site ?
The 4 large chimneys could dissipate all their hot air and the site has room to build a block of flats for their use while they represent us !

Peter Hooper, Windsor, UK

Ifg you look at TV the house of commons is usually very empty.
Where are the MP's what are they being paid for.
Let the army take over

mike, cyprus,

overinflated claims nice soft inoffensive wording that for theft sack them like any other employee would be

charlie wales, cardiff,

They've got a nerve when the public sector pay deals have all been held at 2% and not been back dated after negotiations finish either!

Julia, Kent,

Move Parliament out of London, that'd be a better idea. Send them all to Coventry, where it's a damn sight less expensive and more geographically central. They could learn to survive on a quarter of what they receive now.

Paul, Coventry,

Build a hotel out of central London and let them travel to work like every other commuter

Mike, Sole Street, England

is every commuter to central London to receive extra salary?

Mike, Sole Street, England

If you don't like this, remember one thing. If one person complains, nobody cares. If millions of people do and don't back down until things change, THEN they'll pay attention.

Tom, Kansas City, US

If you are not happy - take action - tell your MP that when re-election comes around you will not vote for any MP that accepts this extra beef up or that has an over-inflated expense expenditure
Instead elect another candidate.

The are accountable to you - use that power.

sam, sydney, australia

In a time of financial crisis, the public being told no above inflation rises, what message does this send? It seems that the MP's have been caught with their snouts in one trough, and rather than showing remorse, simply demand we open another. Sack them all, lets rule by Internet vote.

SL, Darlington, UK

Hotels sounds too expensive Barbara. Why not have a pool of central London property they are obliged to use for as long as they are members? They hand the keys back when they leave.

On the other hand, if we think they're worth £61,820 plus £40,000, raise their salaries that much!

Neil, Derby, UK

Here we go again.MP`s beefing up their fat wallets with unjustified and totally OTT rewards! It will only cost taxpayers £3million more?! What planet are these lazy good for nothing people living on?! We are told to tighten our belts,ask for low pay increases but these guys!Uselesswasteofspacegimps!

P.A, Dundee, Scotland

No, no, no! Absolutely scandalous when genuine refugees are given 35.00 a week for food and essentials and pensioners can't make ends meet. These MPs are greedy parasites!

Olly, London,

Fools. In the powder keg created by the social re-engineering by stealth of the Blair Brown Mandelson triumvirate this risks bringing serious disorder to the country. Mission accomplished?

Ubi, Edinburgh, UK

Pigs and troughs, fat cats etc etc, and they were saying it was the cheifs of private industry who were immoral, well what message does this send or are they just trying to top the petrol tanker drivers.

I amnot an anarchist or revolutionary but enough is enough, get rid of them all!

James, Auckland/&Southampton, UK/NZ

Mr Martin's used to perks of Parliament, let alone as Speaker. Who does he think he is? I, as a normal person, would source the Net to find the cheapest place to lay one's head So should he and any other MP's I realise they prefer preverential treatment but, in these troubling times; set an example

LT, Warminster, UK

Ohh, by the way, never like to mention this but, because of working too hard I became disabled and in constant pain ten years ago.NHS are wonderful but my life consists of constant painkillers, morphine etc. for which I pay myself I get no help whatsoever & live off less than £10,000 Try that MP's

LT, Warminster, UK

There is only one way to stop this abuse of presumed power and it's an X on your vote slip. Vote any of the three main party's for more of the same.
What has the history of political correctness ever done for you but robbed you of Freedom of Speach and the right to an opinion.
Its Highway Robbery.

k mcguchan, coventry,

Return to the concept of noblesse oblige, and return now. The greedy, grubby politicians who seek only to line their own pocket must go. In the 1st century, Marcus Tullius Cicero declared, "Ask not what your country can do for you but rather what you can do for your country." But where are they?

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

So those who already have a London home or who live close to London simply get a £24000 bonus.

D.L. Stephens, York, England

Do they have to be in London anyway? Many businesses now use teleconferencing, webcasts etc. to minimise travel. Most of these MPs only occasionally visit the house, yet claim maximum expenses. Its wrong that they claim mortgage payments to buy properties that they then make huge capital gains on.

Paul B, Hants, UK

Those suggesting the actions of Guy Fawkes or Oliver Cromwell might be appropriate had better watch out. With this government's abuse of anti-terrorism laws your liable to end up with a stretch inside.

Keith, Korat, Thailand

Snouts well and truly in the trough. No wonder these people are regarded with such contempt. When they resign or loos etheir seats the properties that we the tax payers have purchased for them should be sold and the money used to off set taxes.

Bas, Guldford,

Why on earth do we allow this disgraceful practice to continue.MP's have feathered their nests for years and we are still allowing them to get away with it.Enouigh is enough.

Alan Barrett, Leatherhead , UK

Why not ask the country if MP's should get housing allowance? Oh! that's right we live in a democrocy and as such are not smart enough to question the ruling mob, they need clearing out wholesale, bunch of parasites who couldn't hold down a proper job

Tim Walton, Bangkok, Thailand

I wouldn' t have expected anything else from this dictatorial country.

harrisduncan, manchester, england

It's a case of "Get as much as you can before you're booted into the wilderness" and Labour will be there for a long time, until the next generation's children are allowed to vote.

What a despicable bunch of scoundrels.

I'd vote for Guy Fawkes if he were alive.

Mark, London, England

Government purchase of properties for those that need to have additional accommodation in London is the only solution, the current system is just a "legalised" way of lining the pockets of the corrupt.

Nick, Potters Bar, Herts

It's a good job we can all vote ourselves massive pay rises and allowances, oh thats right we cant.

People are struggling to keep their families warm, fed and with a roof over their head, yet the idiots in Westiminster say let them to eat cake!

When does the anti labour / EU revolution start?

Andrew, Heswall, England

Here's a novel suggestion - HOW ABOUT MPS LIVE OFF THEIR SALARIES LIKE THE REST OF US!!! 60K+ is hardly a pittence and plenty of people have to run two homes in order to follow their career of choice. Alternatively, build a couple of travelodge style hostels to provide free accomodation to MPs.

Clive, Chichester, UK

Travelodge more like. I dont get paid for a second home - why should they?

Richard, Plymouth,

MPs, on the whole are just automatons for whichever party they are affiliated to. And now they are to cost the tax payer over half a billion pounds a year. On the rare occasion where they do want to vote with their consciences they are brought off or threatened in submission by the party.

A Harris, Ketteing, UK

Enough! Let us all vote for independent candidates and get rid of this corrupt ruling elite.

Markie Mark, ashington, west sussex

It is grab as much as one can before the Party loses and collapses into obscurity.

Patrick Taylor, London, UK

In any circumstances this would be disgraceful, in the current climate (whatever that is when the "experts" can't make up their minds) it should be considered obscene. MP's salaries on their own are extremely generous when compared with the wage of the many very hard working people in this country.

Alex Hayesmore, London,

or better still, let the state buy some properties (wait 2 years for them to drop to half price ... ) and then let the MPs stay there for free whilst they are in office. Once they leave or get un-elected, they lose the place in favour of the new member.

AndyB, Swindon, United Kingdom

Why on earth do we allow them to buy houses in the first place? Major companies own flats etc in London to put people up, why doesn't Parliament say 'You can have x amount of money to buy a property, but it is our property and when you leave parliament it comes back to us'.

Garth Jones, Cardiff, Wales

Every time I think these gravy-supping MPs can't surprise and disgust me any more, they pull another corker out of the bag.

Come back Guy Fawkes, all is forgiven.

Ade, Wallasey, UK

Why Holiday Inn Barbara, too expensive. There is an excellent Travel Inn in what used to be the GLC headquarters. Let them stay there the few times they actually attend the house. Then they can walk across Westminster Bridge and save us their taxi fares also!

Bill, Suzhou, China

What's so special about MPs? They can't be the only ones who live in one place but work in another. What's wrong with sales people, musicians or anyone else, being paid with tax free expenses?

If it's ok for MP's - then the same rules must apply to us too!

nick, ledbury,

Where's Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army when you need them.

Phill, The Wirral, England

More legalised theft from the public purse. Put them up in hotels paid for by a central office. Holiday Inns are quite good I hear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

barbara, north east,