Northern Ireland’s MPs should be treated exactly the same as MPs from other parts of the United Kingdom. Their expenses should be based on their actual attendance at and participation in Parliament, and no MP should be entitled co claim a red cent from the tax payer without attending and participating in debate and actually representing their constituents. If that means Sinn Féin MPs get nothing, then so be it.
Betty Boothroyd was entirely right in her determination that there should be no associate membership of Parliament; Owen Paterson is entirely right to oppose the proposal to treat NI MPs differently. It’s one thing MPs having their noses in the trough, but to not even have to go to the trough…
