A VB reader, who’d prefer to be known simply as Daft Old Duffer wrote to us at the weekend in response to the MP Expenses debacle. Here’s his take on the contentious subject. Ed
Many years ago I was employed for a time as a relief engineer in the merchant navy.
When ships returned to their home port – and it could be a port in any part of the UK- the crew went on leave whilst someone like me took over to supervise repairs and generally keep things ticking over.
As members of the relief crew lived all over the British Isles the opportunity for padding expenses was sometimes irresistible.
I recall in particular, one Glaswegian who was assigned to a ship moored in a London dock for almost a month. As the vessel was in dry dock for major repairs he could and did, happily claim not only travelling expenses first class rail from Glasgow – but all meal and hotel costs in addition.
While in reality he had brought his entire family south for a free break staying with relatives. And me, I lived in North London and was always assigned to a London dock, so all I could claim was bus fares.
One day I gave in to temptation and padded my paltry pound or two with a couple of mars bars and a pork pie. Only to have said items ruthlessly scrubbed by the area superintendent, who knew a hardened criminal when he saw one.
I can sympathise therefore when I see an MP taunted by tales of mythical mortgages and accommodation for ducks – slips in a packet of tampons and a cheese sandwich.
Mean it may be – even criminal – but human it certainly is.
Daft Old Duffer
Image: noii
