gmb45
15th June, 2009, 01:31 PM
Olympic Village could become MPs' second home from home
Now that the 2012 Olympic Village has been nationalised ? the Government footing the ?1.1bn bill in the absence of private sector funding (which makes us taxpayers the landlords) ? surely there is a ready-made solution to the MPs' second-homes scandal. Make them Village people by blocking off a few hundred of the 2,900 apartments for out-of-town parliamentarians after the Games. It is a thought which is surely crossing the mind of mayor Boris Johnson as he seeks suggestions for post-2012 use of Olympic facilities. They certainly couldn't complain about the accommodation. No moats to drain or mortgages to manipulate. In the Village (see the artist's impression below) MPs would have on-site security, restaurants, gymnasiums, a swimming pool, and be just 20 minutes away from Westminster. Sports bosses are enthused. "The idea of all those MPs living in the Olympic park is excellent," says David Sparkes, British Swimming's chief executive. "Not only would it help resolve the controversies over expenses but it would enable them to keep fit by exercising regularly. For once they can set a good example to everyone in the country." A 'flipping' good idea
Now that the 2012 Olympic Village has been nationalised ? the Government footing the ?1.1bn bill in the absence of private sector funding (which makes us taxpayers the landlords) ? surely there is a ready-made solution to the MPs' second-homes scandal. Make them Village people by blocking off a few hundred of the 2,900 apartments for out-of-town parliamentarians after the Games. It is a thought which is surely crossing the mind of mayor Boris Johnson as he seeks suggestions for post-2012 use of Olympic facilities. They certainly couldn't complain about the accommodation. No moats to drain or mortgages to manipulate. In the Village (see the artist's impression below) MPs would have on-site security, restaurants, gymnasiums, a swimming pool, and be just 20 minutes away from Westminster. Sports bosses are enthused. "The idea of all those MPs living in the Olympic park is excellent," says David Sparkes, British Swimming's chief executive. "Not only would it help resolve the controversies over expenses but it would enable them to keep fit by exercising regularly. For once they can set a good example to everyone in the country." A 'flipping' good idea