Big issues being overshadowed by MPs' expenses

Jun 23 2009 By Ian Taylor MP for Esher & Walton, Surrey Herald

The expenses saga rolls on and with new stories highlighted each day. Newspapers are competing for new angles in circulation wars. Public reaction of anger is more than understandable.

Yet by being indiscriminate it has overlooked the fact that very few MPs have broken the law.

They must be brought to justice. The rest of us may hang our heads in shame about the lax system, yet those who have done no wrong must be properly defended and the system not amended in a way that deters people of modest means from entering Parliament.

Nor in a manner which avoids the reality that an MP's first duty is to be based in Westminster for at least half the week to represent their constituents' interests and engage in the national debate.

Meanwhile, we need to carry on with our work. There are some other big issues which are being overlooked. As I retain a clear conscience, I must disappoint those whose mutterings were picked up in the local press that 'expenses gate' brought on my announcement about not standing again.

This is simply wrong.

Much as I regret the damage done to our Parliamentary process, actually I would have fought this autumn if Gordon Brown had fallen earlier in the month and an election had been forced on a make-shift successor. He survived.

So, faced with another year's wait, I decided not to stand again. If you would like to see my announcement in full, please visit the website www.esherwalton.com/ian-taylormbe-mp.html

Meanwhile, I shall continue to do my best for my constituents until the election is called next spring and thank the many people who have contacted me to express appreciation for my efforts so far.

The attention on expenses has undoubtedly distracted us from some longer-term issues. Only the crisis in Iran has pushed expenses off the front pages, rightly so as international stability could be in danger if that country moves in an extreme direction. The demonstrators are bravely risking their lives for a more moderate political solution, which rather puts our own introspection in a different light.

Finally, on to the battle to protect policing in Surrey. The Government's attitude to Surrey Police beggars belief. One of the best forces is being undermined, year by year, by the Government's funding formula. Surrey is being treated as a rural force, but it is on the outskirts of London with cross border crime being a real burden.

I asked the Government, during a recent debate, to think again. Given that council tax payers in Surrey contribute almost 50 per cent of the cost of Surrey Police, it is surely incumbent on the Government to remove the threat of capping the police budget.

The cost of refunding money to council tax payers by re-billing equates to 24 officers being taken out - at least two per borough. The Surrey police force should be allowed to rebuild, to help the people of Surrey feel secure.