Allowancesgate: MPs “not available for comment”

February 17, 2008

According to a report in today’s Sunday Times “MEMBERS of parliament who represent constituencies less than an hour’s commuting distance from Westminster are claiming upward of £20,000 of taxpayers’ money a year to fund “overnight” homes in central London.” Which, of course, they can then sell at a time of their choosing and pocket all the considerable profit - including EVERY PENNY of taxpayers’ money that went into subsidising that property!
The report then adds: “The latest expenses dodge by MPs has caused outrage among senior politicians who want colleagues who live within commuting distance of parliament to be barred from claiming the cash.” Really? It was our distinct impression that “senior politicians”, many of whom are benfiting from the same “arrangement”, are only “outraged” due to the fact that the greed of their colleagues is likely to rebound on them and their activities in the form of unwelcome publicity!
Furthermore we learn: “A committee of MPs set up by Michael Martin, the Speaker, to review Commons expenses is to consider whether London MPs should be banned from claiming housing allowances which were created when late-night sittings were the norm. It will also examine whether the system of housing allowances for MPs across the rest of Britain should be scrapped.” The less said about “the committee” the better - save to suggest to the media that they should look a little closer at its constituent members - particularly in relation to allowance claiming and support for transparency in Parliamentary affairs!
Interestingly, we do learn that: “Twenty-four MPs with seats in Greater London claimed almost £400,000 of public money to fund second homes last year.” – which is interesting because a Freedom of Information enquiry lodged by our researchers revealed the figure to be eighteen.
However, in an issue first raised by the BNP on this very site, we are gratified to be reminded: “Two Labour MPs with neighbouring constituencies in west London, Alan and Ann Keen, a junior health minister, have claimed more than £175,000 in allowances since 2002 even though their family home in her constituency is less than 10 miles from parliament. Among the highest claimants are the Keens, who share a family home in Brentford which has frequent train services to Waterloo taking half an hour. In 2002 the couple bought a £500,000 flat which is a 15-minute walk from Westminster. Both were unavailable for comment.”
Furthermore, a fact that we were unaware of: “A third MP, John Austin, who claimed £22,110, bought a London flat which is approximately the same travelling time from Westminster as his constituency home”
This and a great deal more concerning the Mother of all Parliaments, can be found: here .