NOT FAIR

by RAY FLEMING
AFTER the Daily Telegraph's exposure of the nature and extent of MP's expenses claims earlier this year it simply did not seem possible that the people's representatives in the House of Commons could expect any understanding or sympathy from the general public. Yet it seems possible that the follow-up review conducted by Sir Thomas Legg may actually have precisely this effect, at least in some cases. Sir Thomas appears to have changed the rules under which expenses were incurred and in effect administered a form of retrospective justice which goes against all principles of fair play. Ann Widdecombe has been outspoken in her criticism of this approach and said she thinks the demands for repayment being made may not be legally enforceable. The Legg review has had another unexpected consequence - to get Gordon Brown and David Cameron to agree on something. Both said yesterday, in different terms, that at the end of the day MPs must accept the conclusions reached by Sir Thomas about the validity of their expenses claims and pay up accordingly. MPs can appeal against the preliminary findings within three weeks but thereafter Legg's judgement will be final. This seems very rough justice indeed, especially since there is already evidence of basic errors in some of the review's conclusions. It will be surprising if MPs - especially those retiring - meekly accept the advice of their respective leaders, and it is not difficult to feel some sympathy for them.