Surround sound AMs

Six days away from the office. What did I miss? A total of 457 e-mails (it would be more but the BBC has a great spam filter). Gordon Brown is still on holiday - and still Prime Minister, despite the threat posed by various Davids.

Politicians' expenses are still in the news, although this time it's Welsh Assembly Members who are making the news through a freedom of information request from the BBC.

Eight AMs claimed the maximum possible amount of £12,500 for second home expenses in the last financial year.

One of the highest claimants, Lib Dem Leader Mike German has his main home just seventeen miles from Cardiff Bay. We all know how tricky the M4 can be of a morning.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then you're probably an AM. Besides rent and mortgage interest payments, the claims include a £2,000 sofa for Labour's Lesley Griffiths and £1,000 for a TV surround sound system for Tory Nick Ramsey. He also spent £2,000 on two beds.

No news yet on why an AM needs more than one taxpayer-funded bed, but Nick's sounds like the place to be next time there's a big match on.

On the right track?

Fans of coalition government will be thrilled to see that Labour MPs and AMs are now sending out publicity photos of themselves alongside a wall plaque commemorating the efforts of the Plaid Cymru leader.

The plaque unveiled by Ieuan Wyn Jones (whose job title takes up three lines of wall space) commemorates the launch of the first direct train from Wrexham to London.

Mr Lucas (centre) was a passenger on board the train and turned up in good time for Defence Questions in the Commons this afternoon.