THE simple answer to your article headed “Are our MPs providing good value for money?” (Echo, Dec 4) is: No.

The article detailed the expenses of our local MPs and would seem to highlight just how out of control the financial support given to politicians has been allowed to become.

It would appear that to serve as an MP one qualification is that you do not have to have a conscience. The professional politician’s main objective is financial gain at public expense.

As a project, it would be interesting to shadow an MP and provide some factual evidence as to whether we are getting value for money. What do they do to justify such excessive expenses?

In our current climate of redundancies and company closures, it does question the need to examine in detail these expenses, ranging from £120,000 to £160,000 per year. I am sure any redundant accountant could be given worthwhile employment with such a task.

In the same edition of The Northern Echo there was also an article about Ted Wood, who has coached Durham University rugby unpaid for 34 years. A balance between the two may provide better results.

David Simmons, Darlington.