Fallout Over MPs' Expenses is Good for Britian

Political Scandal Highlights the Power of the People and the Press

Jun 6, 2009

The public outcry and mass resignations following the media's expose of MPs' spending is proof that the British press, democracy and morality is in good working order.

There has been widespread anger over revelations by The Daily Telegraph that politicians have been stretching parliamentary funds to cover personal costs ranging from £125,000 for home repairs to a £5 church offering.

But the public outrage is a good thing as it highlights Britain's high moral compass, the press revelations indicate media freedom and the mass MP resignations shows that politicians are still accountable to the people.

In countries where the electorate have low expectations of their representatives due to decades of monetary mismanagement, and where the press cannot expose political scandals without reprisals, Britain's political turmoil following details of politician's expenses would be seen as progress.

The British Public's Anger over MPs' Expenses

According to Transparency International, an organisation that measures worldwide perceptions of corruption, the United Kingdom came 11th on the 2009 Global Corruption Index scoring 8.6, with 10 being highly clean.

The British public's reaction of shock and disgust betrays a healthy sense of injustice that is unjaded by constant governmental abuses.

Commenting on a previous parliamentary scandal, The Independent noted "The underlying reality is that British politics is, by international standards, remarkably clean." (British Politics Is Clean, But Would Be Cleaner if Mr Robinson Resigned", The Independent, May 5 2001.)

Akintokunbo Adejumo of Champions for Nigeria, an organisation devoted to promoting better governance in the West African country wrote "...relatively small amounts of expenses caused [the British MPs] downfall.

"In Nigeria, massive, unbelievable amounts of money are stolen or misappropriated, and nobody is held accountable...there really is no basis for comparison with what goes on in Nigeria on a daily basis, and openly, unchecked and in some cases, unreported." ("The British MP Expenses Scandal and the Nigerian Experience," African News Switzerland, May 22, 2009).

The scandal also showcased the British media's ability to investigate and publish politicians' personal expenditure with impunity, a triumph of independence in journalism that should be celebrated especially in light of reports like this: "A prominent Sri Lankan press freedom campaigner was abducted and beaten in Colombo yesterday in the latest in a string of assaults on government critics." ("Press Freedom Campaigner Beaten as Sri Lanka tries to Silence the Media," The Times Online, June 2, 2009).

MPs reacted with embarrassment, apologies and resignations following the reports and not with arrests, violence or bans. The revelations also boosted newspaper sales withThe Daily Telegraph selling 600,000 more copies during its week of exposes.

"This is the best sort of campaigning journalism Britain has seen in decades" said Andrew Pierce, the newspaper's assistant editor. "It's been a real lesson to the rest of Britain and Fleet Street that newspapers still have a very important role to play in keeping the executive to account." ("British Newspaper in Spotlight Over MP Expense Revelations" ABS/CBN News, 22 May 2009).

If the strength of a democracy is measured by the amount of power the people have to affect politics, then Britain should be held up as an example of democratic excellence following the expenses row.

Nearly 30 politicians have resigned as a result of pressure from the angry public. Conservative MP Julie Kirkbride was forced out by her Bromsgrove constituents after reports of her mis-spending.

"An estimated 5,000 people signed the ["Julie Resign"] petition stating: 'We feel that our MP Julie Kirkbride has committed a shameful, fraudulent and criminal act. She must resign immediately so Bromsgrove citizens have the opportunity to elect an honest MP' ".

After her public ousting, one voter remarked "It's absolutely fabulous. It proves that normal everyday people can stand up and get what they want." (MPs Expenses: Fury of Constituents Forces Julie Kirkbride to Step Down" The Guardian, May 28 2009).

The MPs Expenses Scandal may have exposed a dishonest side of British politics, but the investigative role the media played, the swift action by the government to right their wrongs and the power wielded by the public in taking politicians to task should be interpreted as a sign of a healthy but imperfect democracy.

The copyright of the article Fallout Over MPs' Expenses is Good for Britian in British/UK Affairs is owned by Kimberly Ward. Permission to republish Fallout Over MPs' Expenses is Good for Britian in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.