High Rise Politics

I am sure this will not be the only time I will touch on this subject, but rather than complain this time I have a solution to the problem of UK MP’s expenses, flipping houses and 750 quid mirrors.

Reluctantly, I have to agree that MPs need to have a second residence in London to attend Parliament; I am less convinced that they have to furnish it with B&O TV’s and expensive mirrors. So here is my solution. Get a block of council flats in the East End or some other area in need of improvement. I know that often councils are eager to almost give them away providing the new owners take over the running of them and the endless maintenance. Then that block of flats can be converted into one-bedroom flats with comfortable living areas, incorporating and office type workstation, kitchen and bathroom. Depending on your perceived importance flats could be allocated from ministers down to backbenchers. Backbenchers get the basic layout and ministers could have an enhanced layout, with say a separate dining room and office. As MPs move office so they also move flats, not a massive job, it’s all in the same building.

Now here is the good bit, all the flats could be decorated and furnished from standard packages that the MP could select. So for example if you went for package "A" you would get a double bed, Van Gough prints framed on the wall and two settees. Package "B" would be two single beds, one L shaped settee and digital photos of London at night framed on the walls. Now the really good, good bit is all the flats could be connected to their ministerial or constituency offices via secure Internet links, the block of flats could have a restaurant and bar, along with library and gym. The ground floor could have a mini TV and radio studio so that all MPs could be available to give interviews. There could even be a press briefing room now that would put a new meaning to door stepping MPs.

Of course there would have to be secure car parking that would be built into the complex. From a security side, the area can be made like Fort Knox, it certainly would be easier to provide total security for all MPs rather than having to monitor all their homes and trying to work out which one they are in. If anyone is concerned about our MPs being unsafe being all together in one place and therefore presenting a big target, well isn't that what they do when they are all in the House's of Parliament and in any case shouldn't some of them be in their real homes or in their constituencies or off on some tax payer funded jolly in Barbados looking at inner city mono rail systems.EndFragment