I saw it and it did sound feeble.

However, I can sympathise with anybody who might have to get up at 5am to get to work on time, and quite often not finish until midnight.
Having travelled the width and breadth of the M25 as well as in and out of London, it is thoroughly knackering. I lived in Bracknell at the time.

In the end I used to drive to Woking to get the train (it is a very good connection and fast, unlike Bracknell to London). I hated the trains, dirty, standing up all the way, crushed like sardines.
Going into London by car was a no no (Traffic Jams, accidents that would add 2 to 3 hours on to your journey, never knowing if you would get to your appointmenton time). I had a car to die for (Scorpio Estate 2.9 all the mod cons) and it was a pleasure to drive it, but not when trying to get into London.

I am so happy I don't have to do that anymore.

So to some extent, I can see why it was probably better for him to have a place in London on those occasions.

However I cannot see any reason why anybody living vey close or inside London can justify it (e.g. 8 miles).

Soebody mentioned that maybe they should have dormetries available for the MP's. Well maybe soemthing like what they have at Universities, would be a good idea. No charge to the MP's, but no expenses paid out either for second homes. Surely that would be much cheaper.

Its a tough call. Maybe there should be a radius of so many miles from the centre of London, Lets say 30/40 miles minimum before an MP can apply for the allowance.

All I know, is I wouldn't like any MP's job :-)