North Wiltshire MP's first class row over trains (From This Is Wiltshire)

North Wiltshire MP's first class row over trains

4:09pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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North Wiltshire MP James Gray has joined dozens of fellow MPs requesting the right to first class train travel.

Nearly 50 MPs have written to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority which is drawing up a new system of allowances to replace the controversial expenses system.

In his letter Mr Gray argues that first-class rail tickets are essential in order to work while travelling between Westminster and the constituency.

But this week Mr Gray was reluctant to speak about the subject and was shocked that his letter had been made public.

He said: “I don’t think how MPs travel on trains is a particularly important issue and I don’t want to comment until the IPSA has published its report.”

In the letter he was much more forthcoming and said: “Majors in the Army and similar people in the civil service travel first class and it seems to me to be a reasonable expectation that, after 13 years of doing so, I should be allowed to continue.”

The letters come after outspoken Tory MP Sir Nicholas Winterton claimed MPs would not be able to get enough work done in standard class because of the disturbance from children.

He pointed out that it was in the interests of tax payers for MPs to work efficiently while travelling between their constituencies and Westminster.

A first class return ticket from Chippenham to London Paddington booked a week in advance costs £118 off peak and £203 for anytime.

A standard ticket off peak return is £44.80 with an anytime return costing £133.

Bob Lee from the West Wiltshire Rail Users Group thought MPs should be able to work in economy class.

He said: “If first class is being paid for then that at least supports the railways.

“But personally I think they should join the rest of us in standard class.”

He added: “I think it would be a useful experience for the people who make decisions to mix with everyone else.

“They would get to know how things were for the majority of people who travel by train.”

Derek Cunstance, a member of the Armed Forces Pensions Group, said: “These appalling jobsworths have sat in judgement on their own pay, pensions and expenses and, boy, how they have milked the gravy train for all its worth. The system must be subject to root and branch surgery.”