There’s a futility about the calls for an investigation into Tony McNulty’s housing arrangements. Sure, McNulty’s expense claims are outrageous – a mockery of the taxpayer that will further undermine the public’s trust in politicians – but I expect the refrain of the investigators will be depressingly familiar: McNulty acted within the letter, if not the spirit, of the rules. That, or something similar to it.
Of course, this isn’t to say that McNulty shouldn’t be investigated. MPs can’t engage in this kind of behaviour without some sort of scrutiny of their actions. But it is to say that there needs to be a wider review of MPs expenses. The current system is quite clearly not fit for purpose. It needs an overhaul, so that the letter of the rules is more in line with their spirit.
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