Holyrood expense system may not go far enough to restore trust in Westminster - Thurso

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th May 2009

"The current expense system in the House of Commons is a total shambles and its complete abolition may have to be contemplated in order to restore public trust. The situation is so serious that copying the rigorous Scottish Parliament expenses system may not go far enough" said John Thurso MP.

Commenting on recent revelations about the system of MPs expenses, John Thurso said

"The system is not open, transparent or reasonable and it has to be. Although I have been campaigning for reform for a number of years, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that some of the practices which have been going on took place."

"The atmosphere such revelations create makes the job more difficult and in the public mind all MPs are being lumped in with those who claim for swimming pools and moats to be cleaned. Many members have been living in a world which is not related to what is going on out there.

"We may not be far off the point where the system is so rotten that the only acceptable way to go forward is to abolish it. I feel there are two options which I intend to put before the Committee on Standards in Public Life. We can instigate fundamental reform of the present system to make sure it is 'transparent, fair and honest' or we can abolish it totally and replace it by an accountable method.

"No matter how good a new system we introduce, the stink from this will remain in the public's nostrils for many years to come and we will have to work extremely hard to regain their trust."

Talking about recent events at Westminster John said:

"I have never known the atmosphere at Westminster to be so unbelievably glum. I think we have to admit that there has been a massive lack of leadership on this issue. Without commenting on the rights and wrongs behind the resignation of Speaker Martin, I do believe it was in both his and parliament's best interests to stand down. This is not, in my view, as he can be "blamed" for the expenses fiasco - that rests entirely with all members of the house - but because we desperately need someone with the skills and ability to take decisive action in an exceptional circumstance. The speaker chairs the House of Commons commission which will take those decisions and within the house is its leader. In that role he is far more involved in the decision making process than is usually realized and by far the most influential force. We now need a new Speaker with the exceptional skills necessary to deal with this crisis.

"In general I have been heartened by the response from people in my constituency. Although most people are rightly horrified at the revelations about MPs expenses, most have also been supportive and understand that the majority of MPs are honorable and work incredibly hard for their areas."