MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

British police accuse MPs of “Third World dictatorship” expenses

Jacqui Smith: “I made a big mistake, I’ll repair”

United Kingdom frontline police officers have accused Members of Parliament of enjoying expenses that would not look out of place in a “Third World dictatorship”. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was hauled over the coals by members of the Police Federation of England and Wales.

She was forced to defend expenses and allowances for all public servants saying they were necessary for them to work effectively.

Steve Morley of the Metropolitan Police questioned why so many police allowances, from dry cleaning to extra cash for working on rest days, have been dropped.

He said: “Home Secretary, can you explain for the benefit of my members, your electorate, why all our expenses and allowances have been taken away?”

Mr Morley added that some claims by MPs would be “jaw-dropping in a Third World dictatorship let alone in the country of hope and glory”. His comments during a question-and-answer session at Bournemouth's International Centre were met with a long round of applause by hundreds of delegates.

Ms Smith said: “I think in order for people to be able to do their job they should get the expenses and allowances they need in all areas of public service. I think it is clear, and all of us have also admitted, that the process of allowances that MPs have to enable them, for example, to live in two places so they can be in their constituency, is broken.

”That is why the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians are very clear that we need to change the way in which they work. Where people make mistakes, I made a big mistake, they repay the money and apologise for that, and I have done.“

Ms Smith said police officers in London enjoy free travel on many parts of the public transport network, including the Tube.

To further applause, Mr Morley replied: ”I think it is for us to police the trains while we are on there, but it is not a first class railway ticket with buffet service.