Which do you suppose is the greater scandal:
a) MPs having collectively to pay back about £1m of claims over about a five year period virtually all of which was claimed as allowances in accordance with advice provided by those hired to advise them on such claims, and, since very widespread, by definition in accord with the norms of behaviour within the institution concerned.
b) £30m being spent over a five year period on an 80-staff system to monitor and advise upon MP allowance claims in the future. Spend £30m to save £1m. Great deal.
No prizes for guessing which I think is the real scandal. And no prizes for guessing whether as many column inches will be devoted to the latter as were devoted to the former.
