A list of the allowances and expenses claimed in 2007-8 details for the first time how much each MP was reimbursed for family travel costs, amounting to £385,242 for wives, and £75,819 for children. Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, was the second highest claimant for family travel, charging £5,283 for 30 journeys made by his wife Margaret and £4,391 for the couple's two children, a total of £9,674. Current parliamentary rules state that MPs may claim for up to 30 journeys made by their spouse or civil partner and each child under the age of 18 between London and their constituency. The allowance is taxable, but there is no set limit on how much can be claimed for each journey. Taxpayer-funded trips for the wives of MPs have proved hugely controversial in the past. Michael Martin, the Speaker, came under fire earlier this year when it was revealed that his wife Mary accompanied him on visits to such exotic destinations as Hawaii, the Bahamas, New York and Rome, even though she has no official role.
After months of refusals, the House of Commons has published detailed expenses claims for members including Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Tony Blair. More than 400 pages of Commons documents released on Friday disclosed that Mr Brown claimed £9,000 to have his kitchen refurbished in 2005. In common with other senior ministers, Mr Brown claimed public money for a second home even though he is provided with a grace-and-favour home in Downing Street. When he was Chancellor, Mr Brown also made claims including £372 on subscription fees for satellite television; £723 for “cleaning services”; £650 on food; and £1,396 for painting and decorating. Mr Brown also claimed £15 for lightbulbs. With hindsight, perhaps he should have had more installed, as he looks very much like a man who is floundering about in the dark.
Tony Blair, who stepped down as an MP last year, claimed £11,200 for a new kitchen in his constituency home in Sedgefield. For the same house, he spent £516 on new dishwasher and £50 on servicing an Aga. The list goes on…and on… but I’m sure you get the gist. Taxpayers should not be made to pay for Gordon Brown’s Sky TV subscription or Tony Blair’s £10,000 kitchen. Given the economic climate and the fact that everyone’s feeling poorer, it’s high time MPs reined in the amounts they claim for. It is costly for taxpayers and harmful to the standing of Parliament for them to use expenses to live this kind of high life.
The Commons authorities have been working flat out to prepare around a million receipts filed by MPs for publication, after losing a long-running freedom of information battle to keep them secret. The process is due to cost taxpayers around £2million. The documents have now started circulating to MPs for them to check and make representations on which parts should be deleted for security and other reasons. They are expected to prove damaging to many MPs when they are published this autumn. However, it seems that somebody with access to them is willing to part with them for a couple of hundred thousand pounds.
A senior Labour MP, Sir Stuart Bell, has revealed a parliamentary committee is investigating how the expense accounts of the politicians were on offer for up to £300,000. He is quoted as saying, “It’s probably a breach of the Official Secrets Act. It may be a theft, but we will get to the bottom of it. In the public interest, by the way.” Right, Sir Stuart – we believe you!
No comments:
Post a Comment