Duck Islands

22/05/2009 by admin.

Thias is not political! I rather like the handsome duck island that one MP charged to expenses and, though he is branded as a heinous criminal now, I think it was probably a rather better buy than sixteen pairs of bedsheets, curing the dry rot in someone else’s house or a dozen cheap champagne flutes.

I wasn’t familiar with duck islands until our local park acquired one (I hope it cost rather less than £1760 though knowing local authorities maybe not but who cares). Our own duck island is a thing of beauty and I don’t blame anyone for buying one if they can afford it or if their expenses will stand it. I didn’t notice, however, any MPs claiming for opera tickets, watercolours or anything else of  beauty though I think there was one claim for a piano. One hopes that those claiming for sound systems or DVD players used them well - to play rather good jazz or classical music or to watch things other than The Sound of Music.

Pehaps a new category ought to be introduced into a new allowance system; a modest sum for cultural recreation. I’m sure a new generation of MPs would be all the better for it. Duck Islands would be allowed as well as Miles Davis  and Chet Baker  Beethoven and Britten CDs or early 20th century watercolours (provided I could sell them mine).

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