Labour stalwarts have say on expenses scandals

May 24 2009 by Michael Kelly, Sunday Sun

IF the North is the heartland of the Labour party then the CIU clubs are its epicentre.

A traditional gathering place for workers in the region, they have been a forgiving lot for, despite grumbling about the modernisation of the party under Tony Blair, they have faithfully given it their support at the ballot box.

Until now.

The expenses row, centred around MPs using taxpayers’ money to fund everything from getting workmen to change their lightbulbs, furnish their homes, buy a duck island and even clean out a moat, has been running for weeks now and shows no sign of ending.

Its highest profile victim so far is the Speaker and Labour MP Michael Martin who is to stand down next month while a number of MPs have chosen not to contest the next election as they have become a political liability because of the revelations.

No party has been immune and the whole saga has finally blown out of the water the jaundiced view of Labour supporters that sleaze was just a Tory affliction.

At the Coxlodge CIU club in Newcastle, it is the main topic of debate, even though it’s just a couple of days before their team’s crucial relegation battle with Aston Villa.

Ken Jarvis, 67, has been a Labour supporter all his life. He said: “It’s a disgrace. They’re all crooks and villains. It all started with the Tories but now they’re just as bad as each other. I’ve voted Labour all my life to now but not any more.”

His friend Norman Morrelli, 76, chips in with a suggestion that generates much mirth and universal approval. He said: “I would like Prime Minister Gordon Brown to be re-named Ali Baba because his Government has 40 thieves.”

“At the very least,” someone adds.

Tommy Pollard, 60, commented: “I think they’re just taking the mick. If someone’s on the social and they do a job on the side, say for £50, they get their benefits stopped. Why don’t they stop the MPs’ benefits?”

No matter how much the MPs pays back and assertions that everybody was abiding by the rules, it fails to quell the discontent, just reinforcing the view it’s one rule for the politicians and one for everybody else.