Suicide Watch

The fear that some British members of parliament might take their lives when the details of their expense claims are made public.

British politics has been rocked recently by a series of political and financial scandals – from Nixon-esque attempts at defamation, to claiming taxpayer’s money for pornographic films. In July, after a sustained freedom of information campaign, the expense claims of all members of parliament from 2004 will be made public – and it seems that some M.P.s are very concerned. As Tim Shipman reported for The Daily Mail:

Three Labour M.P.s are said to be terrified that the release of their expenses claims will expose them as adulterers and financial cheats. Four ministers are also understood to have warned party whips they might have to resign for abusing the system, when M.P.s’ receipts are published before the summer recess in July.

The three unnamed backbenchers are said to have been placed on “suicide watch” by Labour whips, who fear they might break down when the details of their excesses come out. Two are understood to have had extra-marital affairs with other members of Parliament. Not only are they believed to have shared hotel rooms during annual conference get-togethers and party away days but also to have double-claimed for the rooms on their expenses.

If both M.P.s have claimed for the bill they will be branded frauds as well as love cheats when journalists and freedom of information campaigners sift through their receipts. The third backbencher is said to have made “grotesque” financial claims.

A Commons source told the Mail: “The whips have three Labour M.P.s on suicide watch. That’s how serious this scandal is. The whips believe they might kill themselves.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Benedict Brogan confirmed the rumor, but suspected that “expectation management” might be at work:

No doubt there are some guilty men and women who dread seeing the full extent of their Commons-approved criminality made public. It may be a shaming moment, one which might lead them to consider their position as M.P.s. But I wonder if we are not being softened up to provide sympathy and understanding: “Careful what you say aboutJimmy McVenal’s expenses, he’s a bit fragile. Let’s go easy on him, we don’t want anything nasty.”