Wilson condemns media on expenses

Sammy Wilson said journalists were obsessed with MPs expenses

The NI Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has accused the media of having an "unhealthy obsession" with politicians' expenses.

The East Antrim MP said that journalists had spent too much time focusing on Sir Thomas Legg's investigation into MPs expenses.

He said that issues which "affected tens of thousands of people" were consequently being ignored.

He added that he had "no problem" with representatives being scrutinised.

Following the MPs expenses scandal earlier this year, retired civil servant Sir Thomas Legg was appointed to conduct a review of the second homes allowance between 2004 and 2008.

He has been writing to some MPs asking them to account for money they claimed back and in some cases to repay some of it.

Mr Wilson, who has been MP for East Antrim since 2005, did not receive a letter but accused journalists of being overly concerned about whether he had.

Disproportionate, sensational overhype just smacks of lazy journalism. Sammy Wilson

Writing in the Belfast News Letter, he stated: "I don't have a problem with public representatives being held accountable for what they do with public money.

"But should it not apply to all those in receipt of such funds, including journalists, who if they are going to engage in outbursts of righteous indignation should be prepared to subject their allowances to the same scrutiny?"

Mr Wilson complained that journalists had not covered a House of Commons Transport committee meeting to discuss new EU requirements for motorbike testing.

That had been followed by a meeting to discuss the treatment of workers made redundant from the Nortel plant in Monkstown, Mr Wilson added.

"On one hand, the media lambast public representatives for not getting down to the job but when the job is being done there is no interest in reporting the story," he said.

"Yes, there is a need to report financial impropriety, but disproportionate, sensational overhype just smacks of lazy journalism and there appears to be a surplus of that kind of reporting around."