'Expenses crisis could be catastrophic for democracy'

May 17 2009 By David Wilshire, MP for Spelthorne

Failing to write about the expenses crisis engulfing parliament would reinforce the perception that MPs don’t understand the seriousness of what is happening whilst doing so could add fuel to the fire. This then is my attempt to address the issue without making matters worse.

The public is rightly indignant about what is being revealed It has come as a nasty shock to me too. It is no exaggeration to say that the implications for parliament and British democracy could be catastrophic. However I don’t want to dwell on the implications for existing MPs. This can safely be left to voters and the police.

At some point we will all need to switch from the past to the future. This will be difficult. The process needs to start with setting out some principles that the public and politicans all accept. They will include: MPs need a salary; arrangements for MPs living in two places are inevitable; MPs need staff, facilities and equipment to discharge their duties; and, constituents are entitled to easy access to their MPs and to hear regularly from them.

Responding to these principles also needs universal acceptance. I hope the response will be that we all agree that every detail of salary and expenses should be decided by a totally independent body (such as the Committee on Standards in Public Life). Then, if it proposes (say) a lower salary MPs must accept it. Conversley, if it proposes a salary increase the public and the media must accept that too.

I have deliberately not mentioned my own circumstances. To do so would be to take personal advantage of this column. However full details will shortly be on the internet and I am very willing to discuss them with anyone.