All the papers today seem to have been carrying the news about MPs detailed travel expenses. Hence we now know that Chris Huhne, the Lib Dem Environment Spokesman, prefers to claim just over £3k in mileage by driving to Hampshire constituency instead of catching a train.
Not to be outdone on matter environmental though, Gordon Brown claimed £6,953 for air travel and just £478 for rail. Now true, his constituency is in Scotland, but given Gordon is so concerned about the environment you'd think he do better.
Mind you, his figures since 2001 don't bode well. He's claimed £47,398 for air travel and just £1,447 on rail. In 2001-02 he didn't even claim a single rail ticket and just did everything by plane. Interestingly that was same year he halved the airport tax that he's just doubled.
Update: Before anyone accuses me of being partisan. David Cameron prefers taxis over everything else and spent between £20-£25K on them over the same period.
5 comments:
This is what annoys people - everyone else use trains - but we can have flights.
I use GNER which runs all the way up to Scotland. In fact I once went up and down to Edinburgh all the way from Brighton for an interview.
I'll let you know if I see Mr Brown on the train.
What do you expect, an MP to stay within any limits set by them for the public ,they are above we mortal's (for now)
I am so glad they have opened this can of worms re environment and trasnport costs.
it will show just what a lot of hypocritical loons they are.
good post dizzy.
I suspect that if "I'm Gordon fly me" was asked why he flew the reason would be security. Tony and he used to walk from Downing Street to the Commons but now go by car for "security" reasons
You think that trains there are bad. Try American trains; apart from the odd good line (like the Acela from Boston down the East Coast) they are so slow that it's faster to drive, and they are really sparse, to boot. The closest train station to me is over an hour away.
There's always the bus (for example, Greyhound) but a helpful rule of thumb, with some exceptions, is 'don't catch the bus'.
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