MP expenses, collectors' edition

According to Iain Dale, the Daily Telegraph has received a CD containing details of all MPs’ expenses claims, and is preparing for a festival of outrage tomorrow. I have no idea what is in the alleged leaked information, but rumours around Westminster recently have suggested that some of the claims are resigning matters – for MPs of which party is not very clear.

I feel sorry for the generality of MPs – they are asked to do a very hard job, with long hours and a great deal of personal abuse, while getting by on a salary equivalent to a deputy director in a district council. It’s all very well to say that this is much more than the average salary (it’s a shade under three times the median salary), but one would hope that MPs are not going to be average people, given their role in passing legislation, manning the Cabinet and running the country.

The big strategic mistake MPs made was to add generous expenses rather than adding to the basic salary. Even if honestly and lawfully claimed, big expenses look corrupt. The issue is certainly being heavily spun by a hypocritical press, but the politicians sowed the wind themselves when they tried to hide their pay rises away. Weather forecast for tomorrow: whirlwind.

Update: Oh, the Telegraph are being very underhand about whether the claims are legal or not. Their deputy editor said to the BBC:

Some ministers would be “embarrassed” by the facts but it was up to the public to decide whether the practices being highlighted amount to fraud.

I think we all know which way the public are going to decide, whatever the facts may be. It will also be interesting to see the spin which the Conservative-aligned Telegraph puts on the promised publication of Tory members’ claims in coming days.