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MP highlights suicide risk over expenses
Embarrassing disclosures about the vast expenses claims of MPs amount to a "McCarthy-style witch-hunt" that risks driving politicians to suicide, an MP warned on Friday.
| Clearly none of them considered that they wouldn't be feeling suicidal about their actions being revealed had they acted properly all along. |
| The money was sweet and the power was an aphrodisiac ... |
Nadine Dorries wrote on her blog that the two-week scandal, in which the Daily Telegraph has drip-fed details of how MPs have abused their generous expense allowances, was forcing politicians to the brink.
| I'm afraid I've used up my empathy on the travails of the non-criminal class. Sorry. |
The scandal has triggered outrage across recession-hit Britain and opposition calls for an early general election.
European and local elections to be held on June 4 are expected to reflect the level of popular disgust, with lower voter turnout and a move towards fringe parties predicted.
| British electorate turns conservative. Women and minorities hardest hit. |
"The atmosphere in Westminster is unbearable," Conservative MP Dorries wrote on the blog. "People are constantly checking to see if others are OK. Everyone fears a suicide. If someone isn't seen, offices are called and checked."
Asked about her comments on BBC radio on Friday, she sought to back away from the suicide suggestion, but said the disclosures, including that politicians charged for duck ponds, horse manure, bath plugs and pornographic films, were forcing MPs to breaking point.
"What the Telegraph are executing is almost a McCarthy-style witch-hunt. The way they are deploying their tactics and the way they are treating MPs has reached a point now at almost two weeks where I think people are seriously beginning to crack.
"I have to say the last day in parliament this week was completely unbearable. I have never, ever been in an atmosphere or an environment like it, where everyone walks around with terror in their eyes. People are genuinely concerned."
| Perhaps they ought to remove themselves from the stressful atmosphere by resigning? |
| And then plead guilty. And then allocute. And then remove themselves from their homes. |
Posted by: 2009-05-23 |
