Ken Reid: Wednesday, 04 November 2009
Money, money, money
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Westminster was an interesting place this week. The Kelly report was the only topic in the tearooms, bars and corridors.
"A lot of this is very unfair but we are going to have to say we welcome it," said one veteran Labour MP.
The Northern Ireland parties generally welcomed the report although the SDLP's Mark Durkan reckoned it had not gone far enough.
He was particularly unimpressed by the fact the recommendations are being phased in over five years.
"They are creating two classes of MPs for the next parliament. The new ones will have a completely different set of rules to returning members and that is not right," he said.
He also was critical about the timing for the end of "double jobbing".
The report says it would like to end by 2011 but admits it could take until 2015 to complete.
Peter Robinson says this is in line with DUP policy and it seems likely he will be a candidate in the forthcoming Westminster vote.
A number of the local MPs employ family members and this is to be phased out over the next five years.
However, there are real questions being asked about the legality of such a suggestion.
"I think the employment lawyers will have a field day," said a cabinet minister.
The expenses saga has a bit to run.
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