The last post

At last Nick and I are moving house, after eighteen months of trying to line up buying and selling in a falling market, when most people had decided to sit it out or build an extension.

We've had several disappointments: a couple of houses where it turned out that the vendors weren't anywhere near ready to move when we were, and another where we had doubts about its condition but also decided, after a second visit, that it was too small. We've veered between South and East Belfast, agonising about whether East is too far out, or whether we were going to have to pay way over the odds to stay in the South of the city (of course we were).

But finally the search is over. Our new house is lovely, but we've compromised on location. In other words, we've been priced out of South Belfast and are going East, to the borders of Belmont and Strandtown, not far from where my great-great-grandfather lived when he came to Belfast in the 1860s. We've lived in Stranmillis for nine years and have enjoyed it, but now we're both looking forward to exploring our new neighbourhood.

There are only two disadvantages. First, a longer journey to work; and second, I can no longer keep a South Belfast Diary. So this is the last post. After a short break to settle in, I'll be back with a new blog, accessible from this one of course.

Award thingy

Wise Web Woman at The Other Side of Sixty has given me an award thingy, pictured right. Here are the conditions:

The recipient of this award is recognised for the following:

1) The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervade amongst different cultures and beliefs

2) The Blog contents inspire; strive to encourage and offer solutions

3) There is a clear purpose to the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding of Social, Political, Economic, Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs

4) The Blog is refreshing and creative

5) The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps:

1) Create a Post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award

2) The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post

3) Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or more older post to support

4) The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions

5) Blogger must display the Award at any location at the Blog.

So what has this blog 'achieved'? Well, nothing, really. I’m just about to move away from South Belfast and so it will soon be replaced by a new one. I’ve enjoyed developing my opinions through the discipline of writing posts and in response to thought-provoking comments, which is why I do think blogging is a positive activity. But pressure of work tends to intervene and means I can’t post as often as I’d like – and now a pile of marking beckons and I have no time to say any more. So now all I have to do is to pass on the award to:

Nick, for his constant efforts to make sense of the world – some entertaining, some deadly serious, all expressed wonderfully clearly;

Liam, for reminding me what political debate is all about and for grounding today’s political issues so firmly in socialist history and philosophy. The latest post, on financialisation, is a cracker;

And the Dublin Opinion group blog, for all things Dubby. Where is the Belfast equivalent?

How much is too much?

Although the expenses row is going to affect MPs from all parties, there’s something particularly distasteful about those from the party professing to represent the many not the few claiming for bath plugs and second-hand books. MPs are saying they’ve kept to the rules, although naturally they understand why the public are so upset and of course the rules have to change and they can’t comment on individual cases. A new independent body is apparently going to do that.

But the debate has become too focused on examples, rather than on the important more general questions. Why should MPs be able to claim for, say, groceries and home improvements? Why should the people who decide on our tax levels be able to evade Capital Gains Tax and their full council tax liability? Even if there is no rule to say money for home improvements should be repaid on sale of the property, why didn’t it feel wrong to be making a profit out of the taxpayer?

So it’s time to think about what the total package should be for the job - let’s say for the sake of argument a backbench MP. First there’s the salary. It’s been said that the labyrinth of allowable expenses has grown up as a response to comparatively ‘low’ basic pay of £64,766 a year. If I hear another Labour MP say that we’re in danger of creating a climate where only rich people can go into politics, I’m going to throw something at the TV. Backbench MPs basically do three things: constituency work; attending the Commons and committees; and party political business. Other public sector workers earning comparable amounts may work equally long hours, often managing larger budgets and more staff. So let’s stick with the salary level, and if some of the present incumbents think it’s inadequate then they should butt out.

Then there’s accommodation. In jobs where you’re expected to work on two sites, your employers should pay for what is in effect your second home. The majority of the contested issues over the past few days have concerned the purchase, refurbishment and sale of either first or second homes. None of these would apply if the costs of renting a second home were met but home ownership costs were disallowed on grounds that they were an investment rather than a requirement for doing the job; and if no costs at all were met on the MP’s primary residence. It would also make MPs lives much simpler as they wouldn’t have to spend so much time in John Lewis. Needless to say, rental costs wouldn’t be paid if an MP’s main home was within an agreed distance from Westminster.

Which brings us to travel costs. I do actually think First Class train travel is justified. Second class is crowded and noisy, and it’s likely our MPs will have to work in transit. So - a First Class season ticket between the constituency and London, which also gets you to and from the London second home. For MPs who fly home, Business Class is perhaps not so essential in the air but gives access to better working facilities while waiting, so again is probably worth it for the taxpayer.

Finally, a couple of more minor points. We’d all expect MPs to be able to keep in touch with the news, with Parliamentary business, with their constituents and with their families. Provision of PCs, laptops, broadband subscription (in both homes) and BlackBerry or similar seems reasonable. And the provision of a cash-limited hospitality budget, claimed against receipts, with the names of those entertained provided and a justification for the event, is actually a safeguard against corruption.

And just one other thing. MPs should pay their taxes. All of them, in full.