That Report (First published in the Glamorgan Gazette)

This week saw the publication of an independent review panel’s report into Assembly Members’ expenses. It made a lot of recommendations, many of which will come into force very quickly. The aim of the report was to put in place a system of allowances that would be transparent and supported by most members of the public.

It’s worth remembering that the report made it clear that there has been no “systemic” abuse” of expenses by AMs. It’s also worth remembering that we have always had to produce receipts for each and everything that we claim, with the exception of a £30.65 subsistence payment that can be claimed for overnight stays away from home on Assembly business. From now on receipts will be needed and that’s fair enough.

The changes will effectively have little impact on me. I don’t have a second home in Cardiff and all of my allowance is put into the office and staff payments, mostly directly without me seeing it. It certainly isn’t the case that it is all paid to me first!

In these times of a lack of trust in politicians though, it’s important that as Wales’ newest democratic institution that what we claim as members is justifiable to the public. We’ve published our expenses for two years now. In the days before the Assembly, when unelected bodies ran Wales, vast expenses were paid out to people without any public control or knowledge at all. An audit from those days would make interesting reading.


The pay of AMs shouldn’t be so low as to deter good candidates from standing. Nor should it be so high as to make the salary the main reason for becoming an AM. I have many friends who are doctors, and they earn substantially more than AMs. I don’t begrudge them that because if I had wanted to earn more money I would have stayed in my previous occupation as a lawyer. It was my choice to stand as an AM. Nobody forced me into it.