A taxing matter

A taxing matter

By: Gerard McGrath - HMP Haverigg

Gerard McGrath is angered by MPs expenses irregularities and politicians’ ‘collective arrogant disdain of the electorate’



In an earlier contribution featured in Inside Time, I shared the opinion of those who feel the only people ever to enter Parliament with honourable intent were Guy Fawkes and his crew. It would appear that my rather cynical opinion has been vindicated; given the alleged abuses of taxpayers’ money by less than ‘honourable’ members of Parliament where their ‘expenses’ are concerned.

Readers will be familiar with the alleged ‘second home’ expenses irregularities where the incumbent Home Secretary is concerned, not to mention her husband viewing pornographic movies at taxpayers’ expense. Rumour has it his manhood now adorns the Home Secretary’s desk in a jar of formaldehyde. She is far from alone; there is no need for me to reprise the plethora of alleged abuses of expenses with which the news media regularly regale us regarding honourable members of Parliament. We hear it ad nauseam.

Such is the furore caused by the alleged abuses that this taxing matter is the subject of a long overdue inquiry which, when announced, was met with groans of derision by ‘honourable’ members, quite remarkable!

What angers me about this shabby lot, who sought and somehow gained election to Parliament, is their collective arrogant disdain of the electorate; their crass hypocrisy; their patronizing, condescending manner. As a non-taxpayer (given my circumstances) some might feel I have no right to express an opinion. However, I feel that I have as much right as anyone for the following reasons: Members of Parliament set themselves up as legislators, rule makers and standard bearers. It is they who exercise the mandate gifted to them by the electorate in the name of the electorate and it is incumbent upon them never to abuse their position of trust. Where taxpayers’ money is concerned, it is their duty to disburse it employing prudence and integrity. How the money is spent must be completely above reproach and subject to public scrutiny. Accountability, checks and balances must also be a matter of course; especially when politicians are claiming expenses for whatever reasons; second home allowances, car mileage, porn movies or bath plugs á la our Home Secretary. Yes I know … it really does stretch credibility does it not?

I do not subscribe to the opinion held by some that those who seek public office should not have their entire lives subject to scrutiny. It is my opinion that those who seek public office of necessity forfeit that right. Public office is a privileged position, and those who hold it should heed the adage that they must be - as Caesar’s wife - ‘above reproach’. If I expect and demand too much, I point to the un-learned lessons of history where those who lay claim to being honourable, trustworthy and possessed of integrity when they sought public office proved not to have the morals and ethics of Attila the Hun. I cite John Profumo, Jeremy Thorpe, Jeffrey Archer; liars and cheats to a man. There are numerous others … but why waste good ink?

Centuries ago, Marcus Aiselias cautioned: “Of all things, ask ‘what is its nature’?” Wise counsel indeed. Self-evidently, politicians are as pre-disposed to human shortcomings as the rest of us mere mortals. They are as avaricious, duplicitous, capricious and mendacious as some of their electorate. That said, they sought office and they must accept what comes with the territory and that is, as previously stated, being as Caesar’s wife. Do not have the arrogance and the temerity to legislate, rule make and set standards for the electorate which they feel they are exempt from in their arrogant disdain. Such seems to be the nature of many so called ‘honourable’ members of Parliament who are actually anything but … as recent revelations evidence.

I also subscribe to the opinion of Karl Marx, who rightly stated: ‘The labourer is worthy of his hire’. I readily concur that any person should receive remuneration in keeping with expertise, responsibility and their general effort. I have no objection to politicians receiving the salary they do, for all it far exceeds the national average. I do not object in principle to fair expenses, however I do object to an arrogant abuse and breach of public trust. The more so by those who presume to legislate, rule make for the rest of us yet behave as hypocrites whilst pontificating about the obscene bonus culture of bankers, derivative dealers etc; hypocritical ‘haves’ telling the ‘have nots’ how to get by as their homes are re-possessed, their pension funds evaporate before their eyes and their precious jobs are wiped out in a stroke. Spare me please… ‘physician heal thyself’.

It can but be hoped that the inquiry into the taxing matter of politicians’ expenses brings about much needed radical reform which will see the alleged and proven abuses eradicated for all time. The world is suffering the worst recession since the thirties as a direct result of avarice, lack of regulation, lack of integrity – ever a taxing matter.