Orders of the Day — Taxation

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 February 1978.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Arthur Lewis Mr Arthur Lewis , Newham North West 12:00, 21 February 1978

Very well, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am sorry that my enthusiasm ran away with me. All except members of another place are bloody hypocrites.

I am glad to follow the hon. Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mr. Hawkins). I agree with what he said. Is it not hypocrisy not to allow workers to have tax allowances for their travel to work but so to fiddle the system by co-operation between the two Front Benches—the Liberals are never here, I do not know where the Scottish nationalists are, and the Welsh nationalists remain in Wales—that we allow Ministers to have free travel to and from their places of residence and their offices?

The two Front Benches fix it because one day the Opposition will benefit from it. It is a racket. Like other hon. Members, I have been here late at night and have seen cars going out of New Palace Yard. One person per car goes off while the stupid blighters—I was going to say something stronger than that—the ordinary Members of Parliament, have to get taxis, trains or buses and pay either tax on the fares or the actual amounts. What a farce. What hypocrisy. That is happening almost every night of the week.

Then, of course, two right hon. Members on the Back Benches, who have probably earned more out of their parliamentary activities than any other hon. Members sitting here, are provided with cars—with drivers, petrol, oil, insurance, clearance and so on—worth at least £5,000 a year. They are the right hon. Members for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) and Sidcup (Mr. Heath).