Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Key seats: Brian Thomson in Luton

SBS senior correspondent Brian Thomson visits the constituency of Lutonsouth, where anger still simmers over the MPs' expenses scandal.

SBS senior correspondent Brian Thomson visits the constituency of Luton south, where anger still simmers over the MPs' expenses scandal, which cost the Labour government much support.

With only days to go before Britain heads to the polls, final opinion polls suggest that a hung parliament remains a very real possibility.

The fallout over the MP's expenses scandal is one of the reasons that the outcome of the election is proving so hard to predict.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

The former MP for Luton south which is just north of london was at the centre of the scandal.

For years this down-at-heel town has been the butt of jokes in Britain.

But the locals failed to see the funny side when the sitting labour MP claimed nearly $50,000 to do up a house that she didn't even live in.

She is standing down at this election but the anger over her behaviour has not dissipated, for many it was the last straw - they say they will not be voting on Thursday.

The expenses scandal has led to an upsurge in independent candidates throwing their hat in the ring.

There are four independent candidates in Luton - and one in particular, former TV presender Esther Rantzeen, has thrown the race wide open.

She is of particular concern to the Conservatives who were confident of taking the seat from Labour.

The irony is that the independents who entered the race angry at the Labour party may split the vote to such an extent that Labour could - against all the odds - emerge victorious


2 min read

Published

Updated

By Brian Thomson

Source: SBS



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world