The latest scandal over MLAs’ misuse of public money shows the need for different people with different politics in the Assembly.
MLAs billed the State for hundreds of thousands of pounds for “research” which had never been carried out. If a small voluntary group did that, it would be wound up and the police called in.
Ordinary citizens found to have over-claimed in welfare payments are named and shamed, fined and ordered to pay the money back. If they don’t, they can go to jail.
But to some MLAs, honesty in claiming money from the State is for the little people. They have rigged the system to ensure that big wheels like themselves get off. This is part of a Stormont culture of “anything goes”, generated by the NIO along with parties which regard themselves as untouchable because Stormont would supposedly collapse if they weren't sustained in office.
The main parties are taking the rest of us for fools. The people should give them a short, sharp shock on May 5th.
They should send in a team from People Before Profit to shine a light into the murkv corners where the dodgy deals are done.
All claim-forms and other documentation relating to the hundreds of thousands in public money paid out to Research Services Ireland should be published alongside the names of the MLAs involved.