MP's expenses and salaries bill to rise by £47m

Are we all in this together?

The Mirror reports:

MPs’ claims for expenses are set to soar by almost ­£47million this year.

Shock figures have revealed that the bill for 650 MPs’ salaries and ­expenses, plus the cost of their staff, is set to hit an eye-watering ­£164.7million.

The revelation shatters David Cameron’s pledge to cut the cost of politics and follows the ­expenses furore in 2009 when MPs claimed for everything from duck houses to ­lavish furnishings for second homes.

The rise comes after the rules were relaxed on expenses’ claims for travel, hotels and spending on staff.

Watchdogs at the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority have asked for the extra cash to cover the bill, the Sunday Mirror has learned.

The cost of MPs and their staff in the 11 months from the General Election in May 2010 to April 2011 was £118million.

It included “golden goodbyes” worth up to £64,766 each for departing MPs and money spent on winding up their offices.

But despite their £65,738 salaries being frozen this year, the revised total for 2012 is £46.7million higher than last year...

So MPs are happy to vote through benefit caps and a cut of point for those on certain disability benefits while the taxpayer has to pay even more money towards their expenses.

Revolting. We should be demonstrating in the streets.

And all those who shout "There's no money left" should join us as well.