An MP, Mark Simmonds, who complained he couldn’t live on the expenses available to him shouldn’t just stand down; he should examine his grasp on reality too

The Steeple Times has long shared the view that the number of MPs at Westminster should be halved and that the remaining elected members ought to be paid significantly more but without expenses. A whining Cabinet minister who resigned today is, to us, proof again, that this would be the right course of action.

Mark Simmonds MP is a man who ought to hold his head in shame
Mark Simmonds MP is a man who ought to hold his head in shame
Advertisement

Before packing his bags, Foreign Office minister Mark Simmonds remarked:

Continue the thread

Two stories to keep beside you

Wally of the Week: Katie Price
The same people in the Steeple archive

Wally of the Week: Katie Price

Katie Price is hardly a person in a position to give advice to Madonna on cosmetic surgery Katie Price has racked up six names and three marriages since being born in 1978. Described as “football-boobed” by The Mirror, the glamour model used her weekly column in The Sun today to attack Madonna.

“The impact on family life has now become intolerable. The allowances that allow Members of Parliament to stay in London whilst away from their families… does not allow me to rent a flat that can accommodate my family”.

Simmonds, the Member of Parliament for Boston and Skegness, is entitled to claim £27,874 a year to rent a flat in London and was paid £89,435 as a junior minister. His wife, Lizbeth, additionally received a salary of £20,000 to £24,999.

We are certain that many members of the public would be delighted to be able to rake in upto £142,308 a year from the public purse and could easily accommodate themselves for such a sum. For this reason, we make Mark Simmonds our Wally of the Week. Shame on him and good riddance.

Subscribe to our free once daily email newsletter here:[contact-form-7 id=”225″ title=”Contact form 1″]