A Sussex MP sparked controversy when it was revealed she claimed £20,000 in expenses for a second home in London as she won't travel by train.

Laura Moffatt, MP for Crawley, lives 30 miles from the capital but said the experience of twice being flashed at while travelling late at night forced her to find accommodation nearer Westminster. The story ignited a lively debate on The Argus website. Here are some of the comments.



TD, Worthing
Disgraceful behaviour. This money could have paid for another nurse in our hospitals. Vote her out of Parliament, simple as that. This woman could drive to Gatwick and get the Gatwick Express, which is a lot better managed than other train services, and it's only 30 minutes to Victoria.


Neville Coleman, West Sussex
Laura Moffatt is an MP and as such she should be badgering the House of Lords to sort out the crime problem with proper sentencing and deterrents. That will benefit the community generally, rather than taking the easy option to avoid the problem, feather her nest and take more taxpayers' money.


Jo, Worthing
 I don't understand why she can't get a cab back, even if she worked late five nights a week and had to get home at an unsociable hour, with a cab at around £50 that would come to just over £13,000 a year. There are plenty of other women who have to work late (me included) but our employers certainly don't fork out for a second home. I think we should have answers.


Bryan, London
 I can't believe how ungrateful members of the public are. Here we have an MP working unsociable hours in the House of Commons on behalf of her constituents, who for very good reasons has decided not to travel back late at night and instead have a flat in London. She is without doubt not the only person who has felt vulnerable on a latenight train, and her actions are entirely understandable.


Cedric, London
 You can't blame her for taking the London flat if it's on offer. There's a good reason - the hours MPs work are very late. But the report doesn't say whether she reported these incidents. As an MP she should know it's her moral responsibility to do so, even if it means she doesn't get to bed until even later. Other women, whose jobs don't come with housing allowances, could have to suffer if these crimes are not reported.


Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square
 It would have been far better if she had taken some steps to prevent this sort of thing going on. So, what are people to make of this example?

A battened-down community in which nobody opens the front doors? What will she make of such a world when she goes round canvassing for reelection?


Chris Jones, Crawley
 You arrogant people know nothing, yet open your mouths and spout rubbish about a lady who has only ever tried to help everyone. She works a 70-hour week and dedicated the last ten years of her life to trying to make a difference, yet you sit there and moan. This world would be a better place if there more people like Laura Moffatt.


Paul, Brighton seafront
 How often does she go home at one in the morning? Every day? Once a week? Surely if the latter, then a hotel would be much cheaper.


Pat, Hove
 So she had eight years with no flashers and one year with two. Not bad odds really. I accept flashers are unpleasant and should be taken care of but I travel back and forth to London at the same hours and have not had a problem. It would be better to get the rail firms to have a carriage that had a guard on it where women could sit if travelling alone at night so they knew they were safe.


Strewth, Brighton
 Yes, all sexual harassment should be stopped. The trains and stations should be made safer. Most other people who travel and work long hours do not have the option of an expenses package, they pay all costs themselves.


Dave, Brighton
 Pure hypocrisy. These MPs tell us all to leave the car at home but they know themselves the trains and buses are not safe. Brighton buses are like hell at night. MPs like this get too much money for nothing.


John Swan, Burgess Hill
 She could have always used the Gatwick Express from Victoria and travelled on the Fastway bus service that Crawley is so proud of. She chose to become an MP and should see what the rest of us have to suffer, although I regularly travel late home and have yet to see any excitement. Laura, pull your socks up and think of your constituents, this a lame excuse.