July 3, 2008
If I claim expenses in my job, I need to provide a receipt.
I need a receipt to prove I made that expenditure.
I need that proof because my claim will be written off against my company's tax bill, and the tax man wants that proof of purchase.
The taxman wants that proof of purchase because the law of the land demands it to be so.
The law of the land that makes that demand is set by our legislature - the men and women who trot into the House of Commons each day that we call MPs.
Today, that same legislature voted to keep awarding itself £24,000 a year each in "second home" allowances, not a single penny of which they will have to provide receipts for.
Not a penny.
And Gordon Bloody Broooon, typically, was too busy to turn up for the vote.
Funny that.
But this isn't about the Man Who Never Asked Anyone Else If He Could Be King.
It's a large majority of them from all parties.
"Do as we say, not as we do."
Guy Fawkes - where are you now?
(For a marvellous Commons sketch on this, read The Times Ann Treneman in tomorrow's Times here.)