Monday 12 October: This was the first day back from the summer recess and when MP’s were to receive letters from Sir Thomas Legg informing them of his prelimary findings on the management of their ACA accounts from 2004-2008. MP’s were told that Sir Thomas’s letters would be available from 9.a.m. but they didn’t begin to appear until 5.p.m. The stiff upper lips were holding up into the early afternoon but some began to quiver when news reached the tearooms that the Prime Minister, David Cameron and Nick Clegg had got their letters and were to payback overpayments.
Controversy
The controversy from Legg’s prelimary report, particularly his retrospective proposals, may have been predictable but the reality is that Sir Thomas’s Review was a necessary event to bring an end to the MP’s expenses debacle. Sir Christopher Kelly’s Independent Review of a new system of allowances when it reports to Parliament in November will also hopefully help restore some semblance of confidence in politics.
Embarrassed
MP’s have been rightly embarrassed by the structural and administrative failures of the rules governing their allowances and they now have to prove to an angry and sceptical public that “they get it”. Following Legg, the House authorities (Fees Office) have some questions to answer, e.g. what caused basic audit procedures to be flawed?; and why were there so many inconsistence’s in implementing the rules?
Legg Review / Controversy / Embarrassed
Sir Thomas Legg ACA Review
Monday 12 October: This was the first day back from the summer recess and when MP’s were to receive letters from Sir Thomas Legg informing them of his prelimary findings on the management of their ACA accounts from 2004-2008. MP’s were told that Sir Thomas’s letters would be available from 9.a.m. but they didn’t begin to appear until 5.p.m. The stiff upper lips were holding up into the early afternoon but some began to quiver when news reached the tearooms that the Prime Minister, David Cameron and Nick Clegg had got their letters and were to payback overpayments.
Controversy
The controversy from Legg’s prelimary report, particularly his retrospective proposals, may have been predictable but the reality is that Sir Thomas’s Review was a necessary event to bring an end to the MP’s expenses debacle. Sir Christopher Kelly’s Independent Review of a new system of allowances when it reports to Parliament in November will also hopefully help restore some semblance of confidence in politics.
Embarrassed
MP’s have been rightly embarrassed by the structural and administrative failures of the rules governing their allowances and they now have to prove to an angry and sceptical public that “they get it”. Following Legg, the House authorities (Fees Office) have some questions to answer, e.g. what caused basic audit procedures to be flawed?; and why were there so many inconsistence’s in implementing the rules?