MPs Expenses - My Views

Like nearly every normal person in the country I've been angered, amazed and disappointed by the revelations about the expenses and allowances claims of our Members of Parliament.

As a local parliamentary candidate I'm embarrassed to be associated with a political system that has become a joke. For what it is worth, on behalf of my party I want to apologise for our part in letting it go on and for the actions of some of our MPs.

The rules that have operated - rightly described as akin to a "gentleman's club" are rotten to the core and must go. Transparency and accountability must be the bywords. Only the cold light of public scrutiny has forced MPs to act and only the continued application of public power will change things for the better.

Like many people, I am outraged when I hear MPs of all parties say, "I acted according to the rules". The rules, that they alone created, enforced and adjudicated upon, were plainly wrong. Did they not have the sense to see the difference between right and wrong? Did they not ask themselves whether they could justify their claims in the street to a constituent? Did they not wonder whether such claims would be permitted in the real business world? Did they not simply ask if their actions were right?

As a parliamentary candidate, I get no expenses from the taxpayer or from my party. With my family, I pay my own mortgage, pay for my own travel, and pay my own bills. Just like a normal person. I go to work every day and try to earn a living in this difficult financial climate.

When you get a leaflet through the door from me it's not the taxpayer funded communications allowance that's paid for it, it's the fund raising of my local supporters. When it's delivered, it's not been delivered by the Royal Mail - but by our volunteers walking the streets.

You've a right to know how I would act as your MP if elected. I would give up my job and my only employment would be as your MP. I would have no outside interests or jobs. I would need help to run a local office that I would rent from a local business, helping to support our economy. I would claim the cost of rail travel from Weston to London. In London, where I would need to live in the week to represent you in Parliament, I would claim for the costs of renting or buying a flat. I own no property in London now and never have done. But I pledge that I will not make a penny in private profit from being an MP. If it is cheaper to the taxpayer to buy instead of rent then, when that taxpayer subsidised property is sold, every penny of any profit will go back to the taxpayer - and none to me. I'd pay for my food, pay for my furnishings, utilities and my council tax - these are my cost of living expenses, not the taxpayers. Any claims would be receipted, sent to the local media and put onto my website.

I'm not a wealthy man; I'm a normal Westonian. We must ensure that our Parliament does not become open only to the rich. But, any success achieved should be as a result of hard work, good ideas and - in my case - the benefit of a good state education here in Weston and the support of many local friends, family and well-wishers.

Being an MP would be a wonderful opportunity and a huge honour. My ambition is to serve and represent the community in which I was born and the people I've known and lived amongst all my life.

Mike Bell

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Weston-super-Mare