Letter: Laws case exposes same old expenses flaws

I believe that greed increases with wealth, and that certainly applies to this case of a millionaire helping himself to public funds simply because the money is available.

Ordinary people at basic income levels have applications for moderate benefits means-tested; we should apply the same qualification to MPs expenses. In the meantime, David Cameron should make it clear there is no way back into government for this Laws, whatever political "qualities" he may be deemed to possess.

ROBERT DOW

Ormiston Road

Tranent, East Lothian

There is a lesson in dignity and grace for all politicians in David Laws' immediate and eminently sensible resignation from high office.

What a contrast with those who were accused of taking far greater advantage of the public purse by, for example, claiming salaries as First Minister of Scotland, MSP and Westminster MP all at the same time. Whatever the background and the rights and wrongs of his particular case, David Laws at least did not go through the "no rules have been broken, I have been cleared of any wrongdoing'' routine and in a strange way may have regained some respect for politicians.

ALEXANDER McKAY

New Cut Rigg

Edinburgh

David Laws reportedly seeks to keep private his sexual preferences and deceive his family, friends and colleagues by making an erroneous expenses claim. He is then lauded by his political associates and described by the Prime Minister as "good and honourable". Perhaps duplicitous and naive would be more fitting?

RICHARD PERRY

Kirkbank Road

Burntisland, Fife

Three weeks of the "new" politics and David Laws resigns for skimmimg 40,000 of our money into his boyfriend's hip-pocket and the "great and the good" want the public-schoolboy millionaire back as soon as possible to throttle our services, decimate wages and conditions and screw down benefits to suit investment bankers. Nothing new here then.

RAYMOND MENNIE

Milnbank Road

Dundee

Now that a Cabinet minister has resigned over his expenses' claims, is it not time to abolish the need for claims?

An MP representing a Shetland constituency will have far more need for travel and living allowances than an MP nearer London. Why not have a fixed expenses scheme whereby MPs with constituencies near Westminster get nothing, with the lowest travel and living allowance being paid to MPs within 100 miles of London, increasing at set distances until the highest amounts go to those representing constituencies at the extremities of the realm?

Due consideration would have to be given to other factors such as constituencies not furthest away, but less accessible, such as those on islands.

With a fixed system of allowances, there would be no need for MPs to apply for expenses. These would be automatically added to their salaries. The MPs would be saved the embarrassment of making mistakes, or worse, and the taxpayer would be saved the huge amounts of money being paid out until recently to MPs making inflated claims, plus the salaries of civil servants who check the expenses claims and the committees of inquiry which look into the possibility of fraud.

Such a system would help restore our trust in our MPs and save the foolish and careless from getting themselves into trouble over claims, thus leaving our representatives free to get on with the real business of government.

GEORGE K McMILLAN

Mount Tabor Avenue

Perth

It is time for an amnesty over MPs' expenses. If they come clean and pay back the over-claim: no further action. If they fail to do so: criminal action. Same for MSPs. Regarding future rules, MSPs all have a private office, which I am sure could accommodate a bunk bed. So there is no need or justification for any form of second home allowance.

HAMISH DEWAR

Craiglockhart Grove

Edinburgh