They don't like it up@em!

..as Corporal Jones would say.

It appears that some of our Members of Parliament don't like their new expenses system. Apparently, they have to pay for their expenses up front, keep receipts, then try to claim their expenses back and it's simply not on, according to M.P.'s.

So, let's consider this for a moment. M.P.'s, who are paid by us, who raise money through taxes on us which we pay by having to submit details of income and expenses via Her Majestys Revenue and Customs, don't like the fact that they (like us) have to pay for expenses they incur in respect of their work, and have to claim the money back. At least they get it back! How much does your accountant allow through on the basis that "the Revenue don't like that"?

Then there's the issue that some of have to contend with, VAT returns, tax returns, PAYE/NIC records and payments, SSP/SMP/SPP, which are usually done outside of work hours, aka Sunday.

At least our hard pressed M.P.'s have an army of people to help them -77 in total, managing the claims of 600 or so M.P.'s. We have to pay our accountants, they aren't provided to us like the M.P.S's get.

Maybe they can find time to pass less stupid laws in the next few years, as they'll be too busy to work in Paliament for having to reclaim the second home allowance! Whilst they're at it, maybe they could repeal a few laws or bring them into line with others.

Let's start here - if an M.P. makes a mistake, they should face a jail sentence, with maybe a warning only if they make a single mistake. That would bring them into line with us Pharmacists, who can be jailed for a dispensing error.

Alternatively, they could change the law to stop us being prosecuted for a mistake. Maybe we would all sleep a little better then. What has the New Professional Body got to say about this idea? Have they raised this matter with our M.P.'s?

We're waiting.........