Comment: They'll lose their heads soon if they keep this up.
The beefed-up expenses budget can be used to buy equipment "such as laptops and printers" for MPs and their staff and to help cover "additional electricity, heating and phone bills," the Times reported on Thursday. Rules around providing timely evidence for expenses claims were also temporarily relaxed.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) told MPs that the new measures will provide them "the resources and flexibility to concentrate on your parliamentary duties and support your staff" during the Covid-19 crisis.
Comment: While MPs can now buy new laptops and heat their homes, even though the weather is around 20°C in London right now, much less fortunate people will be struggling to make it through the coming months.
Many workers have lost their jobs or been furloughed and forced to accept a 20% cut in their wages, while small businesses are sinking and the self-employed are struggling to get help.
But as always, there's nothing to see here folks, just keep calm and carry on clapping the new police state - it'll all be ok!