FEW people would disagree with Hugo Mason’s statement (Hereford Times, April 30) concerning the contempt shown by MPs in the expenses fiasco. MPs citing the contemptible phrase that “no rules have been broken” is disingenuous.

The British public are advised that politicians making ‘legitimate’ expenses claims should not be chastised even though many items have been outrageous – such as iPods, pornographic films, bath plugs, £16.50 for a Remembrance Day wreath and 65 MPs renting out their properties for which they already receive an allowance.

Naturally, only an extreme sceptic would suggest that the Government’s attempt to exempt MPs from detailed scrutiny by rewriting the Freedom of Information Act was designed to save immense embarrassment.

We are all faced with increased council tax (except Scotland, whose Parliament froze this tax), yet our MPs with second homes need not fear such increases, as in reality they do not have to pay council tax on their second homes. They can claim it on expenses!

Refreshment costs in parliamentary facilities will be ‘capped’ at five percent this year, so taxpayers will provide a £5 million subsidy for food and drink sold within the Palace of Westminster. Never mind that MPs already benefit from subsidised refreshments: a cup of tea at 30p, breakfast £2.10 and a pint of lager/beer £1 cheaper than in nearby pubs.

But at least the outcry has led Gordon Brown and others to consider the position carefully with promises that such allowances will be scrapped and a foolproof system introduced.

Doubtless only a cynic like me would intimate that foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools.

JOHN MORRIS, Hoarwithy Road, Hereford.