MPs taking money

Wednesday 08 April 09

Last week it was uncovered that the Sinn Fein MPs who are not taking their seats in Westminster have taken over £400,000 in allowances in tax payer money. Sinn Fein made a statement last week that they have not broken any rules. Their MPs use there flats that the money has paid for.
The Sinn Fein MPs do not have a salary from Westminster but have allowances because a Commons vote in 2001. Last each of the five Sinn Fein MPs took £21,000 in extra cost, which is just short of the maximum that MPs can take. Since 2001 the Sinn Fein MPs have taken a total of £437,405 of tax payer money. A Sinn Fein spokesman said, "We make no apology for ensuring that people who vote for Sinn Fein get the same democratic entitlements as everyone else." They do even though they are not serving in Westminster. The Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson said, "It is completely unacceptable for Sinn Fein representatives, who won't even sit in Parliament, to claim hundreds of thousands at the taxpayers' expense." He went on to say that is why conservative oppose giving allowances to those who refuse to take their seat in Westminster.
It is not only Sinn Fein who has some controversy about taking money. DUP MP Nigel Dodds has the 13th highest expenses in Westminster. Dodd's takes £171,609, which goes toward staffing his office and travel. He is not the only DUP MP who takes a large allowance. There are a couple more who take over £125,000 each year. On the other hand First Minister Peter Robinson and his wife, who is also a MP in Westminster have some of the lowest costs in Northern Ireland at about £125,000.
What do you guys think about how much money the Northern Ireland MPs are taking? Do you feel that Sinn Fein should be allowed to have an allowance without taking their seat in Westminster? Tell us what you think by posting something on our forum.