Axed

The MPs travel perk is gone. Lockwood Smith has finally done what he told me he would never do.

Speaker Lockwood Smith has axed the international travel perk MPs and their spouses have used since the 1970s, saying it was clear the tide had turned on the perks.

Dr Smith announced his decision tonight after meeting with the representatives for all political parties on the Parliamentary Service Commission.

The decision will not take formal effect until he changes the official rules for Parliament. However, he said he had made it clear to Parliamentarians what his decision was to ward off any last-chance uses of it.

Dr Smith said he intended to set up another scheme to allow politicians to go on parliamentary-related travel, which would have strict rules. However, taxpayer subsidies for international flights for private travel would no longer apply.

There is warning though. The trough pigs may still get it through the back-door by getting a pay ride to compensate them for the loss of the perk.

He will advise Inland Revenue and the Remuneration Authority of his decision – the Remuneration Authority makes decisions on MPs’ base salaries and could increase that to compensate for the loss of the perk.

How about NO.

They trough plenty big enough already and the poor little diddums want the taxpayer to compensate them for the loss of their taxpayer subsidised holidays. No way. they can join the rest of the country in NOT having taxpayer subsidies for their holidays.

Dr Smith said he had not addressed the question of former MPs, who are still entitled to the allowance.

Why not. It’s not like they can complain, they are all ex-MPs, scum mostly, voted out or retired. Axe their perk too.