Kerre Woodham: Ex-MPs' moral high ground has hollow ring

Ex-MPs Sir Douglas Graham (pictured) and Graham Kelly seemed to be outraged that there be any suggestion that the deal be revoked. Photo / Sarah Ivey

That old poacher turned gamekeeper, Graham Kelly, was thundering this week that former MPs would fight to keep their travel perks.

As president of the Association of Former MPs he vowed that the Government would face a legal battle if it tried to take away the travel allowance that sees MPs who were elected before 1999 receive subsidised travel for themselves and a spouse to the tune of 10 grand each a year.

Former Cabinet Minister Sir Douglas Graham was also bullish.

He said he'd worked extremely hard during his time in Parliament, that as long as he could use the perk he would and that the only way he'd give up the travel allowance would be if he was paid the same in cash.

Both men seemed to be horrified, appalled and outraged that there be any suggestion that the deal be revoked.

And yet both were part of governments which absolutely suckered their constituents.

Kelly was part of the Labour Government in 1987, a government that continued to betray all it and Kelly had stood for.

Sir Douglas was part of the Bolger government that, pre-1990, promised there would be no cuts in benefits and a removal of the tax surcharge on superannuation - no ifs, no buts, and no maybes.

Of course, just a few months later, Ruth Richardson released her Mother of All Budgets in which welfare was cut, the government reneged on the super issue and state spending was slashed.

So really, for these former MPs to squeal about the unfairness of a change of heart is just another example of breathtaking hypocrisy.

Don't get me wrong - I think it's unfair to change the rules now and thankfully, that travel perk won't be granted to future MPs.

But I wouldn't try to take the moral high ground when it comes to deal breaking, given that governments of red and blue hues have been doing it for years.

* www.kerrewoodham.com