Tory Peer Jalied

I may be in a club of 1 here but I don't agree with the jailing of MPs /Peers charged with expenses fraud.

I think they should be made to pay the money back yes but Jail?? that seems too harsh and extreme a punishment to me.

Some of you may be thinking ..'oh well some people have been jailed over benefits fraud etc... well I'm not sure that's the best course of action there either - but then each case is different.

Anyway - It appears to me that 'fiddling' expenses was very much part of the culture of Westminster .. others may have even encouraged that behaviour in colleagues viewing it as the norm.. perk of the job if you like...and who knows.. if this practice hadn't been leaked it may have continued Yes minister style.. business as usual..

To therefore single out the few who have been caught and punish them seems unfair.
Community payback would have sufficed..
I don't condone it. I - like everyone else read the story as it unfolded and shook my head.. wondering why anyone earning good money couldn't pay for things like the rest of us. But as the list grew longer and longer it became apparent to me that it was a cultural - and perhaps a belief system that needed to be changed ...more than a case of pure individual greed .

You can read the story here