THE Scottish Parliament, soon after it was set up 10 years ago, introduced an open and honest system for paying MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament).

That is in stark contrast to the shenanigans at Westminster.

Since Margaret Thatcher’s time in office, Westminter MPs have benefited from a hidden system of remuneration. Rather than clearing this up, things seem to have become worse under New Labour, who have had a decade to do something about the situation, although it was Labour’s Freedom Of Information Act which has allowed a light to be shone on what has been going on.

Unfortunately, their government then tried to exempt MPs perks from that act. The latest wheeze to privatise the setting of MP's remuneration (how very New Labour) looks like a sly move to keep the information away from public scrutiny once again.

Scotland has abolished the allowances for second homes which have proved so profitable for Westminster MPs, many of whom seem to have become property developers on the back of these allowances. Members of all three big parties have had their snouts in the trough to some extent or other. A Conservative member of the House of Lords is calling for a general election to clean out the existing House of Commons. But it will be just the same people who will stand for election, and New Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have all been at it.

For Zeaxland-Wessex, there is a way out and that is to repatriate governance from Westminster and to put it in the hands of a Wessex Parliament. Wessexers could then ensure that at least the remuneration of MWPs (Members of the Wessex Parliament) would stand up to scrutiny as well as that of MSPs.

T R Spratt, Weston Super Mare.