Row continues over double-dipping ministers - Video

If the employment contract says pay $xxx in accommodation allowances then that is what they are entitled to. English is 2nd in charge of the country, you would expect him to live in a decent home and he has a big family to house. I don't imagine a million buys anything that substantial in Wellington? There will always be people that have more and earn more than others - get over it. You can't compare the income of the unemployed or low income with our top politicians there is no point. Next election vote in a group of unemployed - give them a job as our leaders, what's the bet they'll want the going rate of pay and all the allowances? This is just another media feeding frenzy. Why don't they pick on execs of big companies who earn far more and affect the amount paid out to shareholders - some of whom are our retired with very limited incomes?

The point is that in order to lead by example, a house owned by yourself if you a politician (a family trust I doubt would have much of a mortgage) and you are preaching "hey, everyone.. we need to cut costs and streamline our enterprises to best save money" you should also be going "nah mate, have my own home.. families all good there.. lets save the tax payer $77,000 a year because afterall I have my $250,000 annaul income which is 6 times higher the the average national wage anyway."

Lead by example Mr English, give it all back not just half or a bit.

But that's the point. They shouldn't be entitled to it at all. If I chose to work in Wellington, I'd be expected to get my own house there. Why should it be any different for MPs? Considering he did get his own house, then expected the taxpayer to fork over it - a week after his govt bullied solo mums for getting some assistance. It's disgusting.