The Green Party is to submit proposals to the Kelly commission regarding the issue of MPs' expenses. The Greens believe that a full-blown investigation of what has gone wrong is essential if the reforms are to work properly. But on principle, the Greens will say:
- MPs should not be allowed to make up the rules that govern their own expenses and communication. There should be an independent commission empowered to oversee and regulate.
- There should be comparison with civil servants in how these matters are handled.
- It should be a criminal offence to knowingly overclaim - just as it is a criminal offence to knowingly overclaim benefits.
On accommodation, the Greens argue that MPs who live outside London need space both in the capital and in their constituency as they clearly have major commitments in both.
The proposal to the Kelly committee will be:
- MPs who live outside London could be paid a flat-rate overnight allowance.
- The allowance would pay for hotel accommodation, but could instead be used towards rent. (While many MPs have behaved outrageously, it's unreasonable to ask a good MP to live out of a suitcase).
- The allowance should only be paid for the nights that the MP needs to be in the capital.
As a possible alternative to the above, the Greens will ask the Kelly committee to consider the possibility of providing MPs who live outside London with apartments in London - or if they prefer to make their home in London, with a flat back in their constituency.
But the Greens don't see the crisis in British democracy as just about expenses. A Green Party spokesperson said today: "The crisis in British democracy isn't just about expenses. Disillusionment with politics has been building up for years."
"We have an unfair electoral system that practically guarantees a minority government - a government more people voted against than voted for. The whole system is dominated by three very similar parties. So instead of active public engagement with politics there is widespread apathy, cynicism and anger. Therefore we need a complete overhaul of British democracy - including a proportional elections system and a democratised House of Lords."