MPS QUIT WITH £30M WINDFALL

SHAMED MPs who are stepping down over the expenses scandal will share a £30million taxpayer-funded windfall.

All but one of the 73 MPs who will not stand at this summer’s election will turn a profit even after they have handed back their ill-gotten gains.

This includes the three Labour MPs who face charges of false accounting along with a Tory peer.

Parliament was desperate to keep the golden goodbyes under wraps for fear of reigniting public fury.

Matthew Elliott of the Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “It is obscene that they are handed large lump sums when they leave Parliament if they choose to step down, or lose the confidence of voters.”

Retiring MPs are entitled to a resettlement grant of up to £64,766, a “winding-up” grant of £40,799 to pay off staff, and a pension averaging £19,000 a year. Fear of a backlash means Commons Speaker John Bercow is reviewing whether those facing criminal charges should get the windfall.

Elliot Morley, Jim Devine and David Chaylor all say they did nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, the expenses scandal is expected to claim more casualties in the coming months with three peers and two more MPs lined up for prosecution.

A Commons source said: “There is a feeling of impending doom amongst some politicians.

“They’re beginning to realise that their behaviour will not be brushed under the carpet.”

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