Pulling out the designer bathplug will expose everyone’s duck islands

Like most people, the e-Procurement Guru reacted with a mixture of amazement and cynical sighs to recent news of extravagant expenses claims by our MPs.

But what’s particularly interesting is a running theme among the shame-faced politicians … to blame ‘the system’ rather than admit to personal greed.

Of course, things only started to change when ‘the system’ … a procurement system of its own unique kind … became visible to everyone via the media. But what if the House of Commons had a state-of-the-art, purchase-to-pay (P2P) system? And how could all the clever tools and spend analysis capabilities be used? Now, at this point, we started to have some fun, albeit tongue-in cheek … For example, maybe the Commons expenses team could have identified their precise spending on bathplugs, plasma screens and horse manure. Next, they could have consolidated suppliers and negotiated more favourable open contracts – perhaps even reducing prices by as much as 30%!

All possible. But joking aside, where a P2P system could really add value would be to allow visibility to all stakeholders (including the public!) and to enforce compliance. This is where the new-look MPs’ expenses system is sure to be headed. Less colourful. But fewer column inches to worry about. Plus significant savings for the public.And that’s the bottom line. Visibility + compliance = less maverick spending = savings.

But without the correct P2P system in place, it’s too easy for wasteful expenditure to go undetected, year after year. Where did all those budgets go?

Lastly, to put our politicians’ demands into perspective, take a look at the exotic backstage perks allegedly demanded by our honourable rock and pop stars. Makes those House of Commons lunches seem rather modest.