Gordon Brown had urged them to vote for a below-inflation rise as an example to public sector workers and MPs rejected a move to raise pay by 2.3 per cent this year and about 4.7 per cent next year, by 196 votes to 155.

They backed a 2.25 per cent pay rise, without a vote, and rejected moves to boost pay with a £650-a-year catch-up payment.

Wise MPs, as the rest of the country's workers struggle to get around 2 to 3 per cent. They must have see the writing on the wall from the voters if they gave themselves more than the country thinks they deserve and others can afford.

Rising fuel costs, property prices slumping and the increasing cost of food are hitting the ordinary punters' pockets without the comfortable salaries of those in power.

However, settling the thorny issue of MPs' expenses will be the next round of the battle and, as The Inverness Courier went to press, the House of Commons was debating proposals to change the system in line with recommendations from the Members Estimate Committee, which carried out a five-month review in the wake of the furore over Tory MP Derek Conway's payments to his son.

He left the Tory party after being caught paying his son Freddie £40,000 of public money while he was a full-time student.

Most voters would also see the system as it stands as excessive with revelations a John Lewis list exists for MPS to buy items such as televisions and even kitchens for second homes in London.

Sir Christopher Kelly, the chairman of the committee on standards in public life, has already come out to say plans drawn up by Commons Speaker Michael Martin do not address every aspect of the arrangements which have been questioned over the last few months, refusing to give his wholehearted endorsement of the package.

He warns he will continue to monitor where there are in practice continuing public concerns or clear and obvious deficiencies under the new arrangements.

How to fund second homes and living costs must be reviewed but with a common sense approach, recognising that many MPs spent a good deal of time away from their constituencies to undertake a task for those who have elected them.

MPs claim an average of £135,850 on expenses, including living, office and staffing costs, on top of their pay. We are with those who back a robust system of scrutiny of MPs and MSPs expenses, with checks on receipts. Ordinary, working taxpayers deserve it.

Good goal for competitive football 

IN life there are winners and losers. Buzz phrases such as "win, win situation" may please the business fraternity but life experience teaches us the hard fact that some come out on top while others struggle.

Take Scotland's tennis ace Andy Murray and his heroic battle of the biceps against Spain's Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon this week.

Murray fought the good fight but just was not up to the mark — however one hopes the best is yet to come from the 21-year-old. But his opponent, just one year older, showed the best of sporting traditions by being generous in his praise of Murray who he had just hammered off the court.

Being taught how to win and how to lose are good grounds for life.

Therefore, we welcome the move to reintroduce competitive football for older primary school pupils in Inverness. We wish it well, not just for helping to make our youngsters fitter and healthier, but as an experience in making them better people and players.

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