For years, the British people have undervalued and under-rewarded its public servants.

Obvious examples are our nurses, the saviours of lives; our clergy, the saviours of souls; and our teachers, the saviours of young folk.

Latterly, they have been joined by MPs. Is there any job more important than the guidance and governance of the nation?

And yet, we have let their pay slip further and further downwards.

To their credit, MPs have put themselves last in the queue of professionals in seeking reward for their increasingly tough job.

In such a ridiculous situation, no wonder our rulers, seeking redress, have turned to the exploitation of expenses, the perks of the job, which are exploited by high staff in all realms of commerce and industry.

This is an entirely modern practice for increasing rewards to a proper level for top jobs, and it has to be accepted.

Thus, people should not complain about North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin’s £63,000 second home claim, nor even Harwich MP Douglas Carswell’s “love seat”.

Good luck to them.

Now, however, through the public’s crass ignorance and hypocrisy – for what worker, for instance, has not taken advantage of their employer’s stationery and internet provision – we condemn our MPs to doing the greatest work for the meanest pay.

We shall rue the consequences.

Stan Burton
Wittonwood Road
Frinton