MP's weasel out of paying.

This needed a mention - Hat tip to Prodicus

Ian Kennedy to junk Kelly repayment plan - Red Box

Ever since I learned that he advised Alastair Campbell on his appearance before the Hutton inquiry and was his "phone a friend" on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, I've been sceptical about Sir Ian Kennedy. [... ] All very odd. Sceptical? Suspicious? You bet. - John Craig

Sir Ian is the quango veteran appointed to head the new MPs' expenses watchdog, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, at £100,000 a year.

And now, after his speech to the Hansard Society, I'm getting more sceptical. In fact, I'm suspicious that he may be preparing to water down the crackdown on MPs' dodgy expenses.

"We will offer, on a number of occasions, different options for consideration," he said. He will publish these options on Thursday and then there will be a public consultation.

Options? Hold on a minute.

Haven't Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg all said they want Sir Christopher Kelly's pretty tough proposals - ending taxpayer-funded mortgages, banning MPs from employing relatives and so on - implemented in full?

Indeed they have.

But if Sir Ian is going to publish "options", it sounds very much as though MPs are going to get the chance to vote on the new rules, which is what Gordon Brown and is allies were adamant would not be allowed to happen just a couple of months ago.

An there you have it, one rule for them and another for you. 


Should you be late paying your taxes, the state will send around men with shaven heads to seize your goods; however should you lie steal and grasp as much of other peoples money as you can as an MP, the state will water down the rules and let you off.

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