What links the following?

Winterton (Con)
Winterton (Con)
Chapman (Lab)
Viggers (Con)
Steen (Con)
Hogg (Con)
MacKay (Con)
McCartney (Lab)

but not...
Martin (Lab)???

Well, apart from Martin, they are all going to stand down at the next election, following exposure of their expenses in the media. I've been trying to figure out why none of the above (apart from Martin) are biting the bullet, and resigning immediately...and then I found out that MPs who stand down or are not re-elected at a General Election receive a final "resettlement" payment of between 50% and 100% of a years salary (currently £64,766)....oh, and the first £30k is tax free. This is in addition to the "winding up allowance" of £40,799 to terminate leases, and pay off staff (who could include spouses, partners, children, elderly parents, mistresses etc). MPs who quit mid-term do not qualify for the "resettlement grant"....and neither would those who voluntarily step down at a General Election, had Speaker Martin not vetoed the proposal earlier this month.

So what of Speaker Martin? He'll be applying for the post of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds in June, and then on to catch his next gravy train in the Lords.

Makes me sick that even when they are caught out, they still find a way to keep filling their pockets at public expense.