Expenses rules hitting MPs’ mental health, expert says

Frustrations with the new expenses system have played a large part in damaging MPs’ mental wellbeing, the doctor who looks after them has said.

Ira Madan, consultant occupational physician at the House of Commons, yesterday said the expenses watchdog Ipsa was being raised by more and more politicians as a source of pressure.

She said they were also increasingly fed up with being the butt of voters’ expenses-related jokes.

Dr Madan, who has been dealing with MPs for more than a decade, was giving evidence to a committee set up to investigate the operation of the new rules.

Ipsa – set up to monitor the pay and perks system in the wake of the expenses scandal – has been the object of months of angry accusations from MPs.

“The frustrations and difficulties that members are experiencing with Ipsa are contributing to poor mental wellbeing,” Dr Madan told the members’ expenses committee.

“The efforts MPs are putting into their work have increased for a variety of reasons – and one of those is Ipsa – and the rewards have decreased.”

The watchdog made up “a large component of the effort that’s been increasing”, she added. “They are concerned that the way the expenses are reported by Ipsa is picked up by their local constituency press. There can be some vitriolic reporting.”