Second homes scandal brings politics into disrepute, says Dixon

12.01.01am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 11th May 2009

"Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats is right to say that the second-homes scandal, made politicians look 'ridiculous at best, corrupt at worst'," said Cardiff North Parliamentary Spokesperson John Dixon.

"MPs who are claiming allowances for second homes as a right, because they feel that this is a justifiable way of enhancing their salary, have lost sight of the original reason for the allowances. But more importantly, they have lost sight of the reason that they were elected to serve in Parliament", he continued. "They risk dragging all politicians down with them.

"I think I'm lucky. So far, in dealing with other councillors on Cardiff Council, I've not met one person from any political party who wasn't there because they wanted to improve the lives of the people they represent. I might disagree with them, but because we operate under a much stricter code of conduct than do MPs, I know we're there for the right reasons.

"I'm sure that most MPs do operate under high standards of personal conduct, and I'd back the idea that the pay and conditions of MPs should, like councillors, be put into the hands of an independent, external body. Personally, I'd be happier if any second-home allowance was replaced by a loan, to be repaid at the end of an MP's term of office when the house was sold.

"But whatever new rules are put in place, every politician needs to ask themselves not whether they can make a claim for an allowance, but whether it's right that they make a claim. If more of them had asked that question we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now."