THE cuts in MPs allowances and expenses leaked from Sir Christopher Kelly¹s report are wide-ranging and in many cases, sensible.

Some are key. The proposal to scrap the second home allowance and allow MPs to claim rent rather than mortgage interest seems sensible to us.

While we dont expect MPs to live in dormitories, we do think they should rent state-owned premises and pay standard rent, unless they actually live in London full-time.

In that case, they don¹t need an allowance.

We also agree with the proposal to scrap their daily £25 subsistence allowance, which doesn¹t currently have to be supported by expenses.

Essentially, MPs should be paid a sufficiently attractive salary to ensure good candidates and they should have to reveal all of their expenditure to their constituents, to ensure transparency.

Many work very hard for the electorate.

They have to employ staff, they have to eat, travel and have somewhere to live in civilised surroundings during the week.

They have enjoyed some ludicrous privileges for too long, but only a minority have cheated the taxpayers and most of them are being weeded or hounded out.

It will take some time to work through all of the proposed changes and some will throw up valid queries.

But the vital ingredient here is that everything is done transparently so that British MPs are able to wipe away the stain of scandal that has dogged them during the past year.