Moats and beams

摘要

According to the rules, MPS may recoup expenses that are incurred "wholly, exclusively and necessarily" in pursuit of their parliamentary duties. Britain's politicians have therefore had a difficult week, struggling to justify using taxpayers' money to buy black-glitter lavatory seats, clean swimming pools, clear moats and add fake Tudor beams to their houses. Leaders of the three main parties apologised for abuse of the expenses system. Chequebooks were remorsefully brandished, reforms promised and a poll showed that 85% of people think MPS are "self-serving and out of touch".