EAD Solicitors’ Stephen Pinder sees duplicity after the MPs’ expenses row

I COULD spend pages analysing the “unfortunate accounting errors” with regards to MPs’ expenses.

But I approach this issue from the perspective of an ordinary worker.

Some MPs seem to have claimed mortgage interest – tax payers’ money – in respect of loans which were no longer outstanding at the time.

I imagine the situation of an employee claiming travelling expenses from their employer for journeys made several years ago, but which are no longer being made.

In such a case, I have little doubt the result would be a charge of gross misconduct and dismissal.

I would not rule out a criminal investigation, which would frequently lead to a prison sentence if the employee was found guilty of stealing off their employer.

An employee wishing to challenge a dismissal relies upon the law of unfair dismissal, derived from an Act of Parliament passed by our MPs. It is interesting that MPs devise the law but don’t seem to be subject to the same regime of discipline and dismissal.

No MP will be dismissed for gross misconduct and need to rely upon the law of unfair dismissal, instead the chance of “dismissal” will only arise at the ballot box.

One rule for one and one for another, you might say.