MPs' expenses revealed (From Watford Observer)
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MPs' expenses revealed
5:41pm Monday 30th March 2009 in
Details of how much our MPs claimed in expenses last year were revealed today.
The figures, released by Parliament this afternoon, show our four regional MPs claimed more than £80,000 in controversial second home allowances and more than £360,000 on staffing costs in 2007/08.
For the second year in a row Watford MP Claire Ward (Labour) and Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning (Conservative) both claimed the maximum amount of Additional Costs Allowance (ACA) available to them- £23,098.
South West Herts MP David Gauke (Conservative) claimed £20,186 and Hertsmere MP James Clappison £15,916.
Additional Costs Allowance is paid to reimburse members for costs incurred when staying away from their main homes on Parliamentary duty.
Members can claim up to £24,006 (an amount increased since 2007) in mortgage, hotel, insurance, cleaning, utility bills and repairs each year.
Critics, however, claim it is open to abuse by MPs who use it to ‘bump up’ their salaries or to pay mortgage costs on a second home – a home which can then be sold at a personal profit.
Comments(21)
Muddy
says...
7:37pm Mon 30 Mar 09
No wonder MP's are now treated with contempt.
Roll on the election
Fcukin' 'ell It's Fred Titmus
says...
8:01pm Mon 30 Mar 09
foryou.com/mp/claire
_ward/watford)
Kippers
says...
8:29pm Mon 30 Mar 09
MP's in this area don't need a second home in London - they are 30 minutes or less in travelling time so what is their excuse?
I agree, bring on the election!
Spencer Agneau
says...
10:40pm Mon 30 Mar 09
So the answer is don't vote for Labour or the Conservatives.
Rob Ridley
says...
7:25am Tue 31 Mar 09
Tudor247
says...
8:10am Tue 31 Mar 09
enlightened one
says...
8:25am Tue 31 Mar 09
Paradise Watford
says...
8:42am Tue 31 Mar 09
I mean, if you're an MP outside of London it isn't going to be practical or fair to expect them to commute to Westminster everyday. And as to those MP's that live within say 30 mins of the capital it would also be unfair for them to not be given the same expenses as someone who lives 35 mins or more away (although the accommodation they have should be appropriate i.e. not a big family house but a crash pad).
Having accommodation provided is a good idea but what if the MP wants to have family (partners/children) live with them in London? Providing a hostel/barrack/hotel type accommodation wouldn't work there.
So just like if you were employed and lived in Watford but your employer wanted you to visit and work in Newcastle for three days a week they would provide or pay for your accommodation it is fair that MP's also get the additional cost paid for.
BUT, and its a big un, it should not be extravegant and it should not be exploited and it should just cover the basics.
I don't want to pay for an MP's sky television let alone their **** viewing. I don't mind them getting a new kitchen every ten years or so, but not one that costs more than most people earn in a year! They should certainly not be claiming their main home to be a relatives bedroom only 9 miles from their 'second' home which happens to be a large family home and so on.
Its those cases that turning the public, once more, against the politicians who are supposed to be honourable, trustworthy and working for the best of this country and their constituents.
It may not be all MP's who are fiddling the books but the few (and the few happen to be in very important positions it seems!) taint all. I mean how can we trust them when the Home Secretary wants the tax payer to pay for her husbands **** viewing!
Paradise Watford
says...
8:46am Tue 31 Mar 09
I forgot to say I think ALL MP's expenses down to the last penny should be audited on a yearly basis. They should have to justify every single penny they claim and provide receipts etc. This should then be looked at by an independant body. Only once this is in place can we start to trust MP's again on the matter of expenses.
Any MP, now or in the future, fiddling the books should be sacked automatically and a bye election called...
Paradise Watford
says...
9:45am Tue 31 Mar 09
It appears that the mole is asking for £300k for disclosing all claims for all MP's.
Now I don't agree with that, the mole is as bad as the MP's he's trying to uncover in my eyes, but the information MUST be revealed and if the MP's themselves will not release it then I hope that the mole does (but do it for the public good and not for a fee please).
Its funny but didn't the government set up a whistleblowing program enabling employees to dob in companies that are doing things wrong and yet they themselves don't want to be accountable or have their dirty laundry exposed. They above all should be clearer than clear
Spencer Agneau
says...
10:01am Tue 31 Mar 09
enlightened one wrote:Suggest what you like, he's still a Tory with his hand in the till. Maybe you should be called the Darkened One if you still think the Tories can get us out of this mess. People in glass houses should not throw stones, remember Archer, Hamilton, Aitkin, and latterly Conrad Black and of course Ian Oakley. A fine bunch of Tories....
I would suggest that Mike Penning is a much more hard working constituency MP,the only time we see or hear of La Ward is when shes mounting the next bandwagon.She has done bugger all for this town in 12 years and thouroughly deserves the good shoeing that the people of Watford are going to give her when one eyed willy finally plucks up the cojones to call a general election.
Veritas
says...
10:59am Tue 31 Mar 09
Ward is going, just a shame we have to pay a huge pension for here. Now the Fib dems in Outer London don't claim for half the allowances that Ward
does, so who is being ethical? Someone obviously knows its not right to claim certain expenses, so Ward and Et al are taking the mickey, what is frightening, Dianne Abbott, claims after speaking to other MP's is that they think they can weather the storm about their expenses! Where are Wards two houses? I'm sure we will see more about Ward's expenses, might their be a claim for plumbing on there somewhere?Is Brinton going to claim for a second house, I mean if she is half the cost of Ward, claiming for only one house that is more Value for money? Oh and lets get rid of the post of Mayor for Watford £64,000 a year for Dotty!!!!!!
anf £20,000 for husband sounds a bit fishy!!!
enlightened one
says...
1:01pm Tue 31 Mar 09
crazyfrog
says...
2:57pm Tue 31 Mar 09
http://spreadsheets.
google.com/pub?key=p
_Q3_-CakkCvX7ZpN3Gex
UA
i think its scary that there are people out there who after everything this stinking government have done are still going to vote Labour you need your heads examining remeber THE PROMISED REFERENDUM YOU DIDNT GET BUT THE IRISH DID.
REMEMBER BROWNS TAX RAID ON PENSIONS? REMEMBER BROWN SELLING THE NATIONAL GOLD DEPOSITS AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE? REMEMBER TOUGH ON CRIME TOUGH ON THE CAUSES OF CRIME THEN BLAIR INTRODUCED THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT(CRIMINALS CHARTER)REMEMBER THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM LABOUR NEVER SOLVED.
i could go on but i ahvent got all day, not saying the tories are much better but anybody has to be better option than this current shower of ****
Spencer Agneau
says...
6:30pm Tue 31 Mar 09
enlightened one wrote:So you would rather one bunch of crooks took over from another bunch of crooks. You are the Darkened One.
I would rather the tories had a go than another five years of this morally bankrupt mob thanks very much Spence.I think things have moved on a bit since Archer et al,pity you haven't.
You Tories are all the same
enlightened one
says...
11:11pm Tue 31 Mar 09
Strange.
Speedydog
says...
11:16pm Tue 31 Mar 09
Labour? Conservative?
A clue might be in between.
Paradise Watford
says...
9:50am Wed 1 Apr 09
However there seems to be a massive general disatisfaction with the current Labour government not too dismilar to the disatisfaction felt when the Tories lost power way back when.
I would imagine that not just because of the issue of second homes etc. but for many reason the Labour party would not receive nearly as many votes as in the last election. I think however it will be close and that the Lib Dems might actually do very well and maybe even sneak into second place.
Who knows! I think most people would like to see a general election called soon however
Veritas
says...
10:35am Wed 1 Apr 09
get rid of the post of Elected Mayor it is open to corruption who ever comes in, and don't forget you are going to to be paying for Dotty's for many years to come. Money that could be set on services in the community, which they are cutting back on.
mummy_1
says...
8:19pm Sun 5 Apr 09
Perhaps Clare and co could have a flat on a council estate in West or South London while on business.
I bet the 30 minute ride home would be quite appealing after all!
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hempstead says...
7:36pm Mon 30 Mar 09