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Sheridan Calls on MSPs to Pay Back Their Housing Profits |
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Monday, 20 November 2006 |
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Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan today called for a parliamentary motion on housing allowances to be retrospective and cover those MSPs who are currently benefiting from the scheme. This weekend’s press revealed that the allowance scheme goes right to the top of the tree, with Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen having purchased a property in Edinburgh in both his and his wife’s name, at the taxpayers expense. The Greens have tabled a motion in Parliament calling for a review of the allowance after the elections in May, Sheridan says this doesn’t go far enough: “Any changes to the scheme should not allow those who are currently MSPs to get off the hook. Any decision taken should apply retrospectively to the last term in parliament. “I have been campaigning against this scheme for six years and now the Greens have decided to get on board and join me in calling for an end to the scheme. However, it is hypocritical of them to call for a change unless it applies now and applies to the Green MSPs who are currently benefiting from the scheme. There should no profit made on expenses from the taxpayer and anyone who has made a profit, or is about to, should do the decent thing, and give it back.”
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