1:35pm Monday 18th May 2009
By Oliver Evans
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE MPs today said they had felt the “hurricane” of public anger over expenses – with one comparing the reaction to that following the death of Princess Diana.
Wycombe MP Paul Goodman and Beaconsfield MP Dominic Grieve said they had received angry emails and letters as the revelations about expenses gathered pace.
And Mr Goodman called for a general election for MPs to “account” to their constituents.
Neither have been included in The Daily Telegraph’s revelations.
Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan and Aylesbury MP David Lidington were this afternoon unavailable for comment.
Mr Goodman said: “The Daily Telegraph expenses stories have the force of a hurricane - and it's in the nature of hurricanes to devastate the guilty and innocent alike.
“During the past ten days, there's obviously been a increasing number of outraged e-mails and letters, and the mood in the constituency last weekend left me in no doubt that many people believe that all MPs are guilty - period.”
He said: “This mood reminds me in its force and scale of the period following the death of Princess Diana. “I hope that good comes out of it - that people now start to focus on what sort of Government and Parliament they want.”
Pushing out Commons speaker Michael Martin – who opposed the official release of the expenses details – would not be enough, he said.
Mr Goodman said: “We need a general election as soon as possible - so that each MP can give an account of himself to his constituents, including those, of course, who've been milking the system at best and committing fraud at worst.”
Last week Mr Goodman pledged to show Bucks Free Press an “uncensored” summary of his claims before censored claims are released by the Commons in June. The June release will block out some names and addresses.
His second home allowance – the centre of the national controversy - includes costs for a rented property in High Wycombe.
Mr Goodman said: “I want to provide as much detail as is reasonably possible for my constituents.” The uncensored list from the Daily Telegraph would “surely be made public” in due course, he said, allowing constituents to check that against the summary given to the BFP.
Dominic Grieve said he would be happy to show the Free Press his censored expenses before they were released by the Commons.
This would happen once the documents were returned to him by Conservative central office, which is going through all MPs’ claims, he said.
Mr Grieve said: “All these supporting documents and details are going to come out into the public domain and I would like to see that happen as soon as possible.”
Mr Grieve told Bucks Free Press: “I have certainly had letters and emails about the issue, particularly this weekend.”
Six emails were waiting to be read today, he said. “It doesn’t seem very large but bear in mind the biggest campaigns generate about 200.”
Mr Grieve said: “It is quite clear people are very angry and very upset. It is a serious crisis in confidence in our institutions.”
“At the same time, there is a need for a rational debate about what it is that MPs need to do their jobs properly.”
The second home allowance, until recently called the “Additional Costs Allowance”, allows MPs to claim for a second home and its food, utilities, cleaning and furnishings costs.
The latter has caused massive controversy as some MPs have claimed for expensive items to furnish their homes.
Mr Grieve said he only used his ACA – a maximum of £23, 057 in 2007/08 – for £1,535 a month rent, garden maintenance, utilities and council tax for his second rented home near Marlow.
He said: “I do think the rules are completely flawed, the rules need root and branch reform.”
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