When the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is mentioned to MPs, they react in two different ways. One is that IPSA doesn’t work and should be scrapped. Another is that MPs must accept that the public holds no sympathy whatsoever for complaints following the expenses scandal and IPSA will remain a feature of their working lives whether they like it or not.
Now, Total Politics can reveal the true level of dislike for the watchdog. MPs loathe IPSA. The vast majority of MPs, nearly 80 per cent, believe that IPSA is doing a bad job. Close to half of MPs also believe that IPSA has got worse at auditing expenses since it was created in 2010. The figure is far higher than those who believe it is doing a better job.
These results show quite what a poor relationship exists between Parliament and the expenses watchdog. There have been complaints about IPSA’s bureaucratic approach that takes up considerable time, the way it handles claims queries and the training given by IPSA for the unique and lengthy claiming process. As this ComRes survey reveals, these issues have led to a serious collapse in confidence from MPs on IPSA’s ability to fulfill its role.
ComRes survey of 152 MPs
Results in full:
Do you believe that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority does a good or bad job?
GOOD JOB
Total Con Labour Lib Dem Other
9% 8% 9% 10% 26%
Bad JOB
Total Con Labour Lib Dem Other
77% 82% 80% 61% 36%
Do you believe IPSA is better or worse able to fulfil the role of overseeing, administrating and regulating MPs’ expenses since May 2010?
Better
Total Con Labour Lib Dem Other
34% 28% 42% 32% 31%
Worse
Total Con Labour Lib Dem Other
48% 52% 44% 46% 44%
Comments
Gordan Finch / September 07 2011 10:07pm
what do I think of MPs, well lets see, a bunch of cretins, no, a bunch of crooks, well possible not all, But all, just do it for an easy life, good salary with amazing expences. And of cause what is their job, well do you know, no-one appears to know.
Of cause they write letters, some commit fraud, some lie, but in general they are as corrupt as the Government. After being trained to avoid any truthfull answer to all questions. Crooks in suits, is my answer, whats yours.
Gordan Finch / November 05 2011 9:40pm
We have Democracy when EU leaders allow it.
This explains why the EU experiment, and the Euro has failed, (we are being lead by Dictators)
The EU is a dictatorship, where the German and French leaders do not allow democracy. The threat made to Greece’s Prime minister, when he was told quite clearly Greece would receive no further Money. If a Greek “referendum” was held is outrageous, this is gun to the head diplomacy not democracy, Greece and its people have the right to a referendum. Just like the public majority in Britain who wanted a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, before the prime minister forced it through.
Governments are printing money to create hyper inflation, deliberately” to lower its debts. The revaluation of the British pound and US Dollar is a devaluation of your money. What this means is “your bank savings and pension will be worth peanuts. (£1000, will be worth (£250) or less by 2013.
The EU will just print more Euros; these are irrevocably fixed, “with a fraudulent value against other currencies. This has the effect of exchanging £pounds for peanuts, whenever you trade with Euro member states. And the paymaster general Germany, who lost the war, will win the battle and thrive on your £pound or §Dollar, while you shell the peanuts.
Britain is being fed a daily dose of hype about the EU being an important export market, but is it, Britain is the Europeans Unions most important customer, each BMW and Renault sold in Britain means less cars made in Britain and lots of peanuts to choke on while Britain is being filled with Frances illegal immigrants.
The Euro is massively overvalued and everyone knows it, the next bailout protest will force governments to act.