Weather
MP EXPENSES: What your Member of Parliament has claimed (From News Shopper)
Get involved: Send pictures, video, news and views - text NEWS SHOPPER to 80360 or email us
Register now to post your
comments. It’s free, quick and easy.- Sign up for News Shopper's free email bulletins and text alerts.
- Email photos and videos or text keyword NEWS SHOPPER with your message/photo/video to 80360.
MP EXPENSES: What your Member of Parliament has claimed
3:23pm Friday 19th June 2009
PARLIAMENT has published the receipts of all MPs' expenses for the past four years, including the claims of the 13 MPs in the News Shopper area.
In the last financial year, these 13 MPs claimed a total of more than £1.7 million, which breaks down as follows:
Erith and Thamesmead MP John Austin claimed £145,285.
This included the maximum claim allowed for a second home, £23,083, for his flat in Rotherhithe.
In January last year Mr Austin claimed £29.98 for an electric heater he bought for the flat.
Old Bexley and Sidcup MP Derek Conway claimed £130,947.
This included the maximum claim allowed for a second home, despite having a mansion block flat in Victoria where he and his family have lived for a number of years.
Mr Conway claimed £98,785 for his office expenses.
This included around £40,000 plus bonuses which his pays to his wife Colette for acting as his Parliamentary assistant, and £6,450 which he paid his son Freddie for acting as a researcher in 2007/8.
Mr Conway was censured for employing both his sons by the House of Commons select committee on standards, after which some of the money was paid back.
Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett claimed £106,339.
He did not claim for a second home allowance, instead claiming the London supplement, a taxable payment of of £2,812 for London MPs who do not claim for a second home.
Lewisham West MP Jim Dowd claimed £131,165.
He was not allowed to claim for a second home allowance as an inner London MP.
Mr Dowd did claim £750 in petty cash between January and March last year on his incidental expenses provision and staff allowance.
Lewisham East MP Bridget Prentice claimed £130,565.
She was not allowed to claim for a second home allowance as an inner London MP.
She claimed £30,198 for office costs.
Eltham MP Clive Efford claimed £129,840.
He was not allowed to claim a second home allowance, as an inner London MP, and the majority of his claims were for running costs of his constituency office in Westmount Road, Eltham.
Greenwich and Woolwich MP Nick Raynsford claimed £117,562.
He was not allowed to claim a second home allowance as an inner London MP, but he did not claim for any travel expenses.
Lewisham Deptford MP Joan Ruddock claimed £130,766.
She was not allowed to claim for a second home allowance as an inner London MP.
She claimed £1,179 for stationery.
Orpington MP John Horam claimed £120,065.
This included £19,537 for his second home in his constituency.
Beckenham MP Jacqui Lait claimed £128,892.
This included £15,478 for her second home in her constituency.
The Fees Office has pulled her up for over-claiming £7,106 on her mortgage interest repayments.
She said she had a fixed rate mortgage and had not noticed the interest was reducing because she was paying off the mortgage quickly.
Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill claimed £152,794.
This included £14,314 for his second home.
The receipts publised online showed that in June 2007 Mr Neill had a council tax reminder, as he had failed to pay his bill on time, owing £113.13.
Gravesend MP Adam Holloway claimed £146,933.
This included an allowance for his second home in Gravesend, with Mr Holloway claiming £47.96 on a garden hose and sprinkler.
Mr Holloway says he tried to give up his second home allowance and commute to London from Gravesend from September last year to this April, but found it was not practical because of the long working hours he spent in Parliament.
Dartford MP Dr Howard Stoate claimed £147,732.
This included an allowance for his second home in Kennington, with Dr Stoate claiming £443 on DIY materials.
Dr Stoate has repaid the £11,000 he had so far claimed during 2008/09.
Blacked out
The expenses receipts published online by Parliament have key information blacked out.
This includes personal details and claims relating to security.
As a result it is impossible to tell from the documents whether MPs have ‘flipped’ their second homes, claimed for multiple properties in a single year or claimed reimbursement of interest on mortgages that had already been paid off.
To view your MP's expenses receipts, go to parliament.uk
What do you think of your MP's expense claims? Have your say below.
More News stories
- SUNDRIDGE PARK: Dad pays tribute to train death daughter
- BLACKHEATH: Nurse struck off for forcing patient to eat excrement
- NORTH KENT: Parents assured over safety of MMR vaccine
- NORTH KENT: Council pleased with pothole repairs
- VIDEO: Boris Johnson launches climate change website
- BEXLEY: Community centres still waiting for council grants
- BEXLEY: Women's seminar tries to bring communities closer together
- WELLING: New home will inspire elderly residents
- PENGE AND ANERLEY: Fun dance being held for older people
- BLACKHEATH: Nurse forced patient to eat excrement
Your Say YourShopper
shergars ghost, Sidcup says...
8:03pm Fri 19 Jun 09
Local lady, Swanley says...
12:22am Sun 21 Jun 09
akp1948, eltham says...
8:16am Mon 22 Jun 09
AKP
Presents:
BRITAIN, A COUNTRY OF FOOLS
An MP in Briton – Is what I want to be
Wouldn’t vote for reform – For the peasants to see
When I was elected – Made me feel great and tall
So I’d humour the peasants – With contemptuous bull
With the peasants so stupid – Never knowing the arf
My wage at Westminster – Is for having a laugh
An MP in Briton – Is what I want to be
Wouldn’t vote for reform – For the peasants to see
With very deep pockets – And my bank accounts full
I still claim my expenses – And fiddle them all
An MP in Briton – Is what I want to be
Wouldn’t vote for reform – For the peasants to see
I’ve got 2nd homes – Can’t be bothered to travel
So I’ll fiddle the mortgage – There’s no one to unravel
The peasants know nothing – That’s the way it should be
So it’s buy-buy & buy – As it’s now all for free
An MP in Briton – Is what I want to be
Wouldn’t vote for reform – For the peasants to see
I’ve set up great wealth - for my family as well
With almost no probing – There’s no one who would tell
An MP in Briton – Is what I want to be
Wouldn’t vote for reform – For the peasants to see
So I’m buying & claiming – And bending the rules
WITH NO THOUGHTS OF GUILT – IN THIS COUNTRY OF FOOLS
IN 2008, OUT OF SOME 650 MP’s, ONLY 144 VOTED FOR A TRANSPARENT DISCLOSURE,
THAT LEAVES 500 ODD (in my opinion) HAVING MORALS NO BETTER THAN THAT OF CANNIBALS
Now as some of the full facts have been disclosed, the MP’s grovelling apologies for errors have been entered in there hundreds.
WITH ALL THAT I’VE READ
NOW MY MIND THINKS
THE STATE OF BRITON BLOODY STINKS
bobjolley, Laguna Woods says...
5:53am Tue 23 Jun 09
MP EXPENSES: What your Member of Parliament has claimed
When news happens – email newsdesk, call 01689 885703 or text keyword NEWS SHOPPER along with your news, pictures and videos to 80360.
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
akp1948, eltham says...
5:55pm Fri 19 Jun 09