MPs expenses scandal must lead to change says Jim Cousins

May 13 2009 by William Green, The Journal

EVERY MP will be humiliated by the “horrible” expenses scandal and must change their behaviour, a North MP yesterday admitted.

Newcastle Central MP Jim Cousins said he had to change his own behaviour following the “sunshine” cast on MPs by the emergence of their expenses claims.

But many MPs were “in denial” and needed to wake up to the revolution sparked by the crisis.

Labour MP Mr Cousins, who sits on the influential Commons Treasury committee, said it was time MPs put their house in order.

He said it would too difficult for him to “unpick” the system in terms of potentially repaying any money – although it was up to other MPs to decide what to do.

And the best way to “make amends” was to introduce a better system, said Mr Cousins.

His comments came as former Cabinet Minister Hilary Armstrong, MP for Durham North West, revealed she had repaid money claimed for food bills. Earlier, Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell apologised for claiming £6,200 for furniture and promised to repay the money.

Mr Cousins said the situation was a “horrible, horrible mess” but stressed he had voted for Freedom of Information rules to cover MPs, which resulted in the scheduled publication of expenses in July.