MPs demand right to travel first class

By Patrick Sawer and Ben Leach Published: 9:00PM GMT 06 March 2010

Previous of Images Next A idea that MPs should customarily be authorised to transport initial category in "exceptional circumstances" was met with quite clever antithesis Photo: ALAMY Sandra Gidley,Ann Widdecombe, Tom Levitt Photo: Brian Smith,Clara Molden,PA Sandra Gidley,Ann Widdecombe, Tom Levitt Photo: Brian Smith,Clara Molden,PA

They contend they need the perk in sequence to be equates to to work during journeys to and from Parliament. One MP even pronounced he indispensable a initial category chair since of his height.

Their pleas are enclosed in scarcely 50 submissions done by MPs to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the physique charged with sketch up a new complement of allowances to reinstate the discredited losses system.

MPs protest about losses remodel proposals MPs" compensate �65,000 after 1.5pc climb Public dread and questioning of politicans hardens MPs expenses: comparison Tory Sir Patrick Cormack calls for MPs compensate to stand in Speaker Michael Martin in renewed row over unfamiliar trips Britains amicable mobility is high but politicians bluster it

Documents published by the organization show that majority MPs additionally be insulted proposals by the chairman, Sir Ian Kennedy to:

* Ban them from contracting kin

* Scrap the remuneration of a "Golden Goodbye" when they lose their chair

* Limit the volume they outlay on using their office.

The try by a small MPs to keep a small of the majority argumentative aspects of the losses complement is expected to incite offer annoy in between electorate and accusations that politicians are enchanting in special pleading.

Sir Ian"s offer that MPs should customarily be authorised to transport initial category in "exceptional circumstances" such as a tour of some-more than dual and a half hours met with quite clever antithesis by parliamentarians.

Ann Widdecombe, the Conservative MP for Maidstone and the Weald, indicted him of being guided by media "spite" rather than value to the taxpayer, and forked out that the comforts in initial category capacitate MPs to lift out Parliamentary and Constituency work.

She said: "It is a essential make use of of an MP"s time to capacitate that MP to work."

"If I transport initial class, I can block in my computer, not a trickery that is zodiacally accessible in second class. I can thus work via the journey.

"The "at seat" use equates to that I do not have to miscarry the work to go and reserve in the train"s smorgasboard bar.

"Second category being some-more of a thoroughfare, stop and rendezvous in review is a good understanding some-more frequent."

Tom Levitt, the Labour backbencher for High Peak, said: "I constantly work on the train, something I can customarily do in a initial category carriage for 3 reasons: that I have a table, space and remoteness to work there; that I have a chair (as the customary category carriages in between Manchester and London are mostly station room only); and that (as I am over 6 feet tall) I have the leg room for comfort."

Sandra Gidley, Lib Dem MP for Romsey, said: "I find I can customarily do a small utilitarian work that is not regularly probable in customary class.

"Also, as a lady travelling alone late at night I feel safer in first, quite on the after trains when there are mostly a series of people who have been drinking."

Angela Smith, Labour MP for Sheffield Hillsborough, remarked that IPSA members transport initial category and MPs should be treated with colour no differently.

Many MPs have additionally voiced their annoy over the offer to throw resettlement grants of up to �65,000 paid to them on withdrawal the Commons.

Several asked Sir Ian to inspect offer his own idea that they might be equates to to take out particular word opposite a preference by electorate to reject them at a General Election.

Nick Palmer, Labour MP for Broxtowe, said: "Total extermination [of the resettlement grants] would be a serious shift that would disproportionately affect members in extrinsic seats.

"Perhaps an inner word intrigue could be offering to that members could pointer up if they wished?"

In the 86-page conference request IPSA stated: "MPs willingly accept a career with a high turn of doubt and we assimilate that majority would wish arrangements in place to assistance lessen that uncertainty.

"We do not believe, however, that there is a definite box that the taxpayer should bear the cost of ancillary those arrangements."

But Karen Buck, the Labour MP for Regent"s Park and North Kensington, said: "The removal of any resettlement accede to for sitting members will place genuine pressures on those but personal resources; those in middle/late center age and those with prolonged use who have small awaiting of returning to a career that they left for Parliament."

The preference to throw the argumentative "golden goodbye" is well known to have stirred a small MPs to retire at this year"s General Election in sequence to still validate for the payment.

Sir Ian"s due anathema on the practice of family members as secretaries and assistants additionally roused the ire of MPs.

Peter Hain, the former Welsh secretary, said: "Family members retain the personal faithfulness compulsory to work for an MP and mostly work over the mandate of their contracts."

Another offer that stirred an indignant recoil was the scrapping of the apart communications stipend for MPs, used to discuss it electorate about their work.

James Plaskitt, the Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, told Sir Ian: "I [already] finish up subsidising the operation from my own resources. Curb what is authorised in this area and you quell the use we give to the constituents."

Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, said: "Each year I have had to put a large piece of my own income in to appropriation my casework staff and the using costs of my subdivision office."

A series of MPs argued for a estimable enlarge in their compensate as a approach of avoiding destiny debate over expenses.

Derek Wyatt, the Labour MP whose 75p explain for dual thwart eggs stirred gibe when it emerged, argued for a �100,000 income to embody all allowances, stating: "The total losses failure arose since no Prime Minister from Edward Heath onwards has had the balls to compensate MPs a decent salary.

"In a small tools of London currently a first propagandize head clergyman receives some-more than an MP."

But thousands of electorate have additionally created to Sir Ian, with majority expressing annoy at what they courtesy as attempts to H2O down reforms of the system.

Andy Denker said: "The MPs themselves had a possibility to shift the complement dual years ago but voted opposite it. They should right away accept the consequences, but will they?"

Derek Cunstance, a part of of the Armed Forces Pensions Group, said: "These abominable jobsworths have sat in settlement on their own pay, pensions and losses and, boy, how they have milked the gravy sight for all the worth.

"The complement contingency be theme to a base and bend surgery. MPs contingency do so in sequence to offer their nation and electorate not to distinction from them."