SNP COMMENT ON MP ALLOWANCE ANNOUNCEMENT.

SNP COMMENT ON MP ALLOWANCE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Commenting on the Written Statement on reform of MPs’ allowances today (Tuesday), SNP Westminster leader, Angus Robertson MP, welcomed action, but questioned the timing of the announcement.

Mr Robertson said:

“This announcement must be the first example of a prime minister trying to overshadow his Government’s own Budget statement.

“Reform of parliamentary allowances is long overdue, but Gordon Brown’s timing looks like a cynical attempt to distract attention away from Labour’s £15bn Budget cuts bombshell. “It cannot be a coincidence that, just as Labour intends to hit public services with massive spending cuts, Gordon Brown has finally sprung into action on MPs’ allowances – although he has not published details of how the new system would work. Any system is open to abuse, and a key problem is that Labour Ministers have been prepared to abuse the system. “The bottom line is that MPs’ expenses should not be decided by MPs, and Westminster should follow the open, transparent and reformed system that applies in the Scottish Parliament.”