Downing Street Says » MPs’ Expenses

» Thursday, October 21, 2004

MPs’ Expenses

Asked to justify the Additional Cost Allowance which the Prime Minister had claimed as part of his expenses as an MP, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the Prime Minister’s expenses had been approved by the Fees Office. All were within House of Commons rules. As he understood it, the Additional Cost Allowance was designed to help MPs with the cost of maintaining their constituency home. The Incidental Expenses Provision was designed to help MPs with the cost of running their constituency office.

3 Comments »

I would like your justification for the scandalous situation whereby MPs can use taxpayers money for property speculation! Let me explain.
An MP who entered parliament in 1992 could have bought a London flat on an interest only mortgage for less than \xA3100,000! They can then claim expenses from the taxpayer to cover the cost of the monthly repayment! After 10 years the flat has appreciated to a value of over \xA3500,000! It is then sold with the profit banked by the MP who can then either buy a new flat on the same basis or use the expenses to rent!
This is not a hypothetical situation but is actually happening now!
I am sure that the public are unaware of this further misuse of taxpayers money and would be far from happy with a situation where their MPs can effectively accumulate vast wealth at their expense!
Comment by Les Stevenson — 30 Dec 2004 on 10:05 am | Link
Perk of the job?!?!
Comment by PapaLazzzaru — 30 Dec 2004 on 10:26 am | Link
As I heard an American commentator say a few weeks ago. People mainly get into government to do good, but stay there to do well! Even Blunkett, who, allegedly claimed travel expenses for someone he was not entitled to claim for, didn’t lose much in the long term (except his job) Perhaps performance tables could be usefully drawn up before elections, so we can judge current encumbents’ performance before voting.

Bob Lawson.
Comment by Bob Lawson — 18 Apr 2007 on 1:52 pm | Link

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