First Class.

Mr Smith wasn't surprised that some of our MSPs would use their parliamentary allowances to travel first class, but he is surprised by the names of some of the class warriors who seem to have adopted the habit.

Bill "Campaign for Socialism" Butler never struck Mr Smith has someone who would opt for the non-proletarian comforts of Scotrail's first class. Never mind. Come the revolution comrades we will all be travelling first class.

"THE Scottish Parliament may have been established to bring politicians closer to the people, but a minority of its representatives would rather avoid the great unwashed when it comes to travelling by train. A Scotland on Sunday survey has revealed that more than 10% of our MSPs regularly travel first class as they commute from their constituencies to Holyrood. Frequent first-class travellers from Glasgow to Edinburgh include Labour MSPs Wendy Alexander, the former leader; Bill Butler; Patricia Ferguson; Trish Godman, Charlie Gordon; Ken McIntosh; Frank McAveety, Pauline McNeill; and Irene Oldfather."

Very Grigor-ious.

"THE SCOTTISH Conservatives' spokesman on affordable housing is charging taxpayers almost £1000 a month to live in a luxury second home in Edinburgh. Sir Jamie McGrigor is claiming more in rent than any other MSP under Holyrood's controversial Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance (EAA)."

Mmmmm.

No Votes.

Atticus records the fact that only two MSPs who were present for the vote on changing the controversial accomodation allowance scheme for Members of the Scottish Parliament last week chose not to use their vote. They were Liberal Democrat MSPs, Nicol Stephen MSP and his colleague Tavish Scott MSP, coincidentally both major beneficiaries of the current allowance scheme. Mr Smith wonders why they didn't vote?

Heat And Light.

It seems to take a lot to get our Members of the Scottish Parliament hot under the collar, except of course anything to do with their remuneration, pensions or allowances.

"MSPs awarded themselves a £1.4 million increase in allowances for employing staff and running their offices. The cash will be shared out between members – despite a recommendation that constituency MSPs should be better funded than those elected from the regional lists."

Mr Smith seems to recall that one of the first debates in the Scottish Parliament following its re-establishment in 1999 was a debate on the subject of MSPs' allowances which has set the tone for most of what followed in the minds of the public. Perhaps MSPs should be banned from awarding themselves higher salaries or allowances until the public have actually voted that they deserve one because of what they have actually done? For example pass a few good laws, improve the performance of Scotland's public services, increased the country's rate of growth, eliminated some poverty, ... that might focus their minds.

While The Cats Away ...

Mr Smith must ask what has happened to Scottish Labour Leader Wendy Alexander over the last couple of weeks? She seems to have disappeared which is perhaps part of her latest relaunch strategy to try and make everyone forget the issues which have plagued her since she was not elected in the first place. But in Wendy's "absence" it would appear her Labour colleagues are battling about the issue of allowances for those of them representing "constituencies" and those of them representing "regions."

" LABOUR MSPs are engulfed in a civil war over plans to change their allowances so that constituency members receive more than those elected from the party list. MSPs are due to vote on whether to accept the findings of a report by a committee chaired by Sir Alan Langlands which recommended that constituency MSPs should get £62,000 a year for office and staff, but list MSPs just £45,000."

One of the main critics of the change is Lord "three jobs" Foulkes, coincidentally a Labour "regional" MSP, therefore with more to lose than most Labour MSPs, and who it is hard to think of as the "voice of reason" on this or any other issue. But it just reinforces how much the concerns of representatives of the Peoples' Party have changed since they lost power last May with their main concern now apparently being their own allowances and not the best interests of the people themselves.

Homeless.

Mr Smith reads that, "AROUND 30 MSPs will have to sell their taxpayer-funded Edinburgh homes if they want to make future expenses claims for staying in the capital. Holyrood bosses have ruled that the abolition of the discredited mortgage interest scheme should be accompanied by MSPs disposing of their Edinburgh properties. The decision means that just less than one-quarter of MSPs will benefit from a near six-figure windfall if they sell their subsidised flats before 2011 - when the new expenses rules kick in."

Mr Smith's heart bleeds. Really ... it does.

Taking liberties.

So, "THE Liberal Democrats are trying to get round the proposed ban on state-funded mortgage payments for MSPs by calling for £11,000 a year to live in their constituencies. Nicol Stephen's party has suggested the public should pay for MSPs to stay in family homes they have owned for years."

What a novel idea. Paying elected representatives to live in the place where their constituents live. It's amazing that no one has ever thought about that one before. But where would it leave the likes of Liberal Democrat Scottish Leader Nicol "Three Homes" Stephen? Pick a home .... any home.

The Common Man.

So, "THE Leader of the Scottish Lib Dems owns three homes worth £1million - and does not live in any. Nicol Stephen's property empire includes a £400,000 Edinburgh home that he now rents out after pocketing around £50,000 of taxpayers' cash on it. Stephen, 47, and his wife Caris Doig, a tax expert and letting agent, also own homes in Carnoustie and Aberdeen."

It must be nice to own three homes and from now on he will be known as "Three Homes" Stephen. Coincidentally, Mr Stephen endorsed a recent Shelter campaign on affordable housing, "To highlight our campaign for 30,000 affordable rented homes, Shelter Scotland built a model house outside parliament and invited MSPs to show their support by adding a signed brick. We were delighted that nearly half of all MSPs (63) turned up to add their brick, including ... Nicol Stephen ..."

Some people like Mr Stephen obviously find housing more affordable than most of us.

Mr Hutcheon ... again.

The vitriol-packed comment pieces from the Sunday Herald's Political Editor Paul Hutcheon have previously been highlighted by Mr Smith on this blog, but Mr Hutcheon went quiet for a while. But Mr Smith is happy to say that Mr Hutcheon is now back and in full flood in a piece on the Edinburgh Accomodation Allowance Scheme used by the Members of the Scottish Parliament.

"Spare a copper for MSPs ... MSPS LAST week earned their salaries by publicly debating genuinely important issues such as rape, eating disorders and the rights of wheelchair users. But in private, they moaned about a subject close to their hearts: protecting their state-funded mortgage payments. In party group meetings, tea-room chats and behind-closed-doors bitching sessions, MSPs complained about the imminent reform of their much-loved Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance (EAA) ... Don't believe the folk who say politicians are only in it for themselves: this overlooks the fact that they are trying to fill their families' boots as well. If the past five days are anything to go by, they are at their most animated when their own financial self-interest is questioned."

Do any of our politicians still talk to Mr Hutcheon given his trenchent and well earned commentary on their real political concerns?

Jamie Dodger.

Mr Smith reads that, "An MSP has rushed to buy a second home at taxpayers' expense - weeks before new rules would have banned him from cashing in. Lib Dem health spokesman Jamie Stone joined the ranks of MSPs amassing millions in profits from second homes ... Stone would not comment last night."

A response in the best traditions of the Scottish Parliamentary and Liberal democracy. Mr Smith says end the gravy train.

Lords a leaping.

"LOTHIANS Labour MSP George Foulkes today hit back after an SNP backbencher criticised him over his expenses from the House of Lords. Nationalist Christine Grahame said Mr Foulkes, who is also a Labour peer, had claimed £111,386 in expenses from Westminster's second chamber over the last two years.And she called for MSPs who are also members of the House of Lords to be means tested before they can receive expenses.But Mr Foulkes said the figures Ms Grahame quoted were "deliberately misleading" because they referred to the period before he was elected to the Scottish Parliament last May."

And he gets an MSPs salary on top. It's amazing he can fit it all in. It would appear that Scottish Labour's attack dog is himself under attack.

House.

Mr Smith reads that "A TORY politician has pocketed £60,000 from the controversial free-homes-for-MSPs scheme. And wealthy farmer Alex Johnstone is now charging the public more in rent than he did in mortgage payments. Johnstone made the profit from selling his taxpayer-funded flat in Edinburgh. He is now living in the capital in a rented flat financed with more public cash. "

Is there anyone left who is prepared to defend the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance Scheme which is operated by MSPs? Having the taxpayer pick up the mortgage costs of an MSP's property is one thing. Selling a home, pocketing the cash and then renting another one is really pushing it.

Time that the Scottish Parliament sorted this out.

Golden Goodbyes.

Mr Smith reads that "42 POLITICIANS who quit or lost their seats at this year's Holyrood elections have received more than £1.1 million in pay offs from the taxpayer. The "resettlement" grants, which had to be found from Scottish Parliament contingency funds, are intended to help ease former MSPs back into everyday life. "

Mr Smith thinks that sums up the problem with modern politics ... politicians having to be paid to "ease" themselves "back into everyday life." That might explain why so often they take such poor decisions, and then get a wodge of cash even if the voters vote them out of office.

Away from home.

Mr Smith reads of the latest controversy behind the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance Scheme as used by Members of the Scottish Parliament.

"TAXPAYERS are paying an extra £500 per month to house an MSP in a hotel in Edinburgh because she has been barred from staying in her own flat in the city. Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant returned to Holyrood during May after a four-year gap and planned to be based in a flat she owns in the capital. However, Parliament chiefs have now informed her she can no longer claim the allowance to help pay the mortgage on the flat because of rules preventing MSPs from charging for flats they already own."

Now is it just Mr Smith or is the real issue here the fact that an MSP has chosen to rent out a flat which they could have lived in rather than rent out privately? Mr Smith thinks the ball is firmly in the court of Ms Grant who perhaps should be more focused on being a Member of the Scottish Parliament rather than trying to become a property mogul.

Atten … SSSSSHHHHUUUUNNNNN.

So, the public have had their first chance to give evidence on the changes that should be made to the totally discredited Scottish Parliamentary Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance Scheme which allows “out of town” Members of the Scottish Parliament to claim back property and mortgage costs on second homes they have in Edinburgh, and then pocket a share of the profits when they come to sell the property on.

Mr Smith thought that the following suggestion was worthy of implementation.

“The only member of the public to have contributed so far, suggested that out-of-town MSPs be accommodated in ex-RAF quarters at Turnhouse, near Edinburgh Airport. There are ex-MoD accommodation blocks at Turnhouse sitting unused that could easily be converted into one bedroomed self-contained flats," stated former air force squadron leader Dave Smart.”

Well I guess it would be handy for the airport … and we could forget to let them out some of the time, but Mr Smith worries that they may feel the urge to go “under the wire.” He has a funny feeling the idea will not catch on, somehow … it’s a bit too much like an episode of Colditz.