Eyes Down, Full House.

Full House! Must be a debate on MPs expenses.

It is ironic that New Labour which flaunts its dedication to human rights and civil liberties, should itself be the implementer of so many measures that fundamentally undermine freedom, the presumption of innocence, and the rule of law.

Way back in 2003, the Government set up a criminal confiscation agency which was empowered to confiscate a person’s assets without any criminal conviction whatsoever. Since the Magna Carta it had been a requirement that a person had to be found guilty before any confiscation take place. Not any more. Now it requires a civil hearing only and no conviction in a criminal court.

There was little media comment at the time, a few academics grumbled, but it was generally agreed that this was a Good Thing, the Robber Barons on the Costa Brava would be deprived of a Sunseeker boat or two.

Fast forward 7 years, and Alan Johnson has taken advantage of the clause which permits Statutory Instrument – or delegated power – to enlarge the Proceeds of Crime Act to enable various private bodies to seize assets without a criminal conviction. Nay, let us forget ‘enable, and extend it to ‘encourage’, for those agencies, in these pecuniary times, are to be given a cut of the loot. Nothing could be more likely to encourage hard pressed councils to ‘have a go’ at seizing the assets of a reluctant council tax payer than being allowed to retain a share of the profits.

There has been a resounding silence from MPs on the evils of ‘delegated powers’, no earnest debate, no entreaties for a free whip on the matter, they have been perfectly content for legislation to be passed in skeleton form and then amended far from scrutiny to suit a Minister’s agenda. You might imagine that they are content with the situation.

Statutory Instruments were originally bought in to make MINOR amendments to Bills and streamline the parliamentary process. However under the present administration, if they can be correctly called that, they have increasingly been used to bypass Parliament and bring into law legislation wanted by the New Labour apparatchiks but which would have no chance of being passed through the full parliamentary process.

But wait! What is this? The distant sound of MPs piling into the house to complain that legislation is being changed ‘by diktat’, that they should have an opportunity to debate these amendments and should they so wish to amend them’?  Which bit of the Proceeds of Crime Act could have so energised them?

Councils in England and Wales Could seize assets from people in council tax arrears or parking fine defaulters

Gangmasters Licensing Authority Might seize property from someone profiting from underpaying wages

Counter Fraud and Security Management Service Investigating prescription fraud and theft by NHS staff

Gambling Commission Could seize assets from rigged betting rings

Rural Payments Agency Could confiscate money from farmers fraudulently claiming agricultural grants

Financial Services Authority City regulator could seize assets of those convicted of insider dealing

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency Could pursue profit made by haulier defrauding MoT or licensing laws

Transport for London Could go after assets of fare dodgers or ticket forgers

Royal Mail Might confiscate assets from a fraudulent postmaster or employee

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Could recoup profits from sale of counterfeit medicines

The answer of course, is none of these.

MPs have no more interest in the Proceeds of Crime Act than any other piece of legislation which has enabled this totalitarian Government to extend its sinister fingers into the affairs of its citizens.

However, the triffid has now wound its icy fingers round their own throat, and MPs have discovered that having delegated power to Sir Christopher Kelly’s Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to impose reforms to their expenses, they no longer have the right to debate those reforms.

Kelly’s proposals include a ban on claims for mortgage interest on a second home, a ban on employing partners and relatives as parliamentary or constituency researchers, abolition of the £10,400 annual communications allowance, and a ban on MPs who live within 60 minutes of Westminster claiming for second homes. There will also be a proposal for a big reduction in the resettlement allowance for MPs who lose their seat or are forced to stand down. The allowance can range from £32,383 to £64,766, depending on age and time served. The first £30,000 is tax free. First class travel and London travel costs would be reduced and a £25-a-day “subsistence” allowance would end.

Oh dear! A small taste of life as an ordinary citizen. Your finances changed at the whim of somebody you didn’t vote for, no debate, nothing you can do about it, reduced living standards…….my heart bleeds for them.

We can be sure the Commons chamber will be bulging at the seams as they bitterly complain at the unfairness of all this.

Anna is the landlady of the Raccoon Arms. She lives in the Monbazillac area of South West France and still takes a keen interest in British politics.