POLITICIANS ARE elected to serve the public interest, not to advance their self-interest at taxpayers’ expense by abusing their parliamentary allowances. As members of parliament, they enjoy a uniquely privileged position. They legislate for others but, in setting the rates and conditions for their own expenses, they are also legislating for themselves. Clearly, politicians cannot abuse rules they have set for their own behaviour and hope to retain the public’s trust and confidence.
In Britain, recent revelations of how so many MPs have abused the system of parliamentary allowances at Westminster have proved hugely damaging, both to politicians and to democracy. The parliamentary allowances problem in the UK has its roots in the relatively low pay of British MPs – £63,291 (€71,113). This is 40 per cent less than TDs are paid for a less onerous job, in a far smaller country. In Britain, a reluctance by the political class to ensure that MPs are adequately paid – it seems for fear of voter disapproval – has proved misguided and produced some unintended consequences.
The abuse of the allowances system was compounded by unwise attempts to cover up this scandal. MPs, having exploited the allowances system in order to boost their incomes by stealth, tried to block publication of the detail of their expense claims, defying a ruling by the Freedom of Information tribunal. The High Court, however, overruled the politicians, decided public money “should be seen to be properly spent”, and ordered disclosure.
The details now emerging are deeply embarrassing for politicians of all parties at Westminster. The revelation that Britain’s home secretary had charged the taxpayer for her husband’s pay-per-view pornographic films hardly inspired public confidence. Neither has the admission by Jack Straw, the justice secretary, that he had over-claimed for his council tax and mortgage bills. Legislators, by operating a double standard, bring politics into contempt. Certainly, it becomes more difficult to pursue welfare fraud when some politicians are seen as defrauding taxpayers.
The global financial crisis has placed democracy under huge pressure. In particular, politicians must lead by example to inspire public confidence and to secure public acceptance of the major financial sacrifices necessary to ensure economic recovery.
Politicians in Ireland, as in Britain, have been slow to do so. Elections in both countries next month present the public with an opportunity to ask questions.