It’s a ‘depressing time for the health of UK democracy’

May 29 2009 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Dear Editor, – The last few weeks have been a depressing time for anyone concerned about the health of our democracy. The details of claims by MPs of all parties for second homes, for furniture, for bedding, for food, the allegations of ‘flipping’, the talk of moats and duck ponds, have painted all occupants of the Palace of Westminster in a poor light.

Here in Perthshire, the SNP MP has published his own claims, and whilst he has not been claiming for a mortgage or, unlike his SNP colleagues, for home cinemas or Toblerones, he has been claiming the princely sum of £200 per month for food.

There are no receipts for these claims on the MP’s website. Will these now be published? If not, will he agree to pay this money back?

We have to restore faith in the political system and this should start with the local MP.

Ann Rees,

Shoetree House,

Butterstone Wood,

Butterstone,

Perthshire,

PH8 0HA.