John Baron MP rather peevishly takes me to task - rather too peevishly from his position I think - over the issue of second home allowances for members of Parliament. (April 8) All because I had pointed out the curiousness of three identical claims for 2004/5, by himself and colleagues Bob Spink and David Amess, down to the last two quid at £20, 902. (March 20 ) It now transpires, according to the tetchy Mr Baron, this was because all three had claimed the maximum amount allowable while - according to the Echo article on South Essex MPs' second home allowances - Labour's south Essex MPs had, to a man and woman, all individually cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds less.
And they continue to so do.
Which, despite the epistolary Letters intervention of the good Member for Billericay and district, remains a very curious fact of political life hereabouts no matter what he says.
Indeed, why should this be so? Possibly it is a national phenomenon.
The Echo should investigate further.
John Haran
Broadway West
Leigh
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