Commons needs a mass clear out; VOICE OF THE NORTH.

DUE to the Freedom of Information Act, we can now find out the extent by which politicians from all parties have milked the public purse when claiming expenses or should I say allowances.

Through the Press, we have been informed of the extent of claims by individual politicians and the greed that exists amongst them. What has not been printed in the Press is a full explanation of the rules which allows such claims. Politicians have put themselves above the citizen. For example, mortgage tax relief was abolished for normal citizens a number of years ago. Yet, MPs receive generous allowances to purchase homes.

Like many people, I worked in London for a time and had to pay my housing costs in London and back here in the North East.

Over the last few years at elections, I have voted for candidates who were not sitting politicians; it is the only way of ridding our system of the corruption which has developed. I vote for a party that does not have an elected representative.

Our country needs a new Cromwell to rescue the citizens from the current political classes.

The only way this will be achieved is to rid Parliament of all current MPs regardless of political party, and replace them with fresh representatives of the people. In short, a mass clear out.

TOM MOUNTAIN, South Shields, South Tyneside