Bristol MP claimed for second bed in one-bedroom flat
Bristol MP Kerry McCarthy has repaid £402 after claiming for two beds – for a one-bedroomed flat.
But the second bed was never delivered.
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Kerry McCarthy
She made the claims for her London apartment under her second home allowance.
The Labour MP opened up her expenses to the Post and has posted the documents on her website.
But she was unable to work out what one item, listed as "double", on an invoice was for.
She believes it could have been for a bed that was never delivered.
She told the Post: "In August 2005 I purchased a flat in London.
"I furnished it with a sofa unit and a bed from Habitat.
"At the time of the purchase I was not aware that I was allowed to claim for such items but five months later, in January 2006, I was told by a colleague that I could do so and submitted both furniture orders to the Fees Office for reimbursement on January 10, 2006.
"It has only now come to my attention that the furniture order for the sofa unit includes an item which appears to be another bed.
"I recall that there were significant problems getting Habitat to deliver the furniture and I remember being in a position where the new parliamentary session was about to start and I still did not have a bed in the flat.
"I can only assume that the bed I originally ordered was out of stock and another order was placed, but as this was four years ago I am not sure.
"In view of that error on my part I have spoken to the Fees Office which has accepted repayment of £402."
Ms McCarthy claimed about £8,500 towards the costs of setting up a home in London after winning her seat at the last general election.
She succeeded Jean Corston in the Bristol East seat in 2005 so used her second home allowance to cover the legal costs and stamp duty of buying a flat near Parliament and then furnishing it.
The Labour politician opened up her files to the Post and revealed she claimed about £956 a month in mortgage interest as well as occasional food claims up to the maximum £400.
Land searches and other fees came to £3,657, as the documents, which she has now posted on her website, reveal.
Ms McCarthy said: "When I was elected I was in a position where I had to find new homes in both Bristol and London.
"In London I have a modest one-bedroom flat and I bought some furniture to make it a reasonable place to live. These costs were because I was a new MP and I haven't made claims for similar items since."
The £4,500 she spent on furnishings and fixtures, included:
- £1,326 Habitat corner sofa made up from smaller units
- £459 bed
- £149 under-bed drawers
- £170 mattress
- £604 TV/DVD
- £45 clothes rail
- £10 on hangers
- £17.50 on a bath tidy
- £79 on two cushions
- £709 on three sets of drawers
- £47 on bedding
- £42 on picture frames
- £397 on two tables
- £35 on lamps
- £198 chair
- £130 rug
- £76 on linen and cutlery
21 Comments
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by Cleo, Bristol
Thursday, June 04 2009, 12:29PM
“¿Bristol MP claimed for 2nd bed in one-bedroom flat¿ headline is very different from what the article actually says. This looks like an honest mistake. As an office manager for many years, it was routine for stationery suppliers not to deliver everything I ordered but still to charge for the full order. After this happened a couple of times, I had to check every delivery against the delivery note against the invoice with a toothcomb. I can see how this bed could then have been claimed for twice.”
by Cleo, Bristol
Thursday, June 04 2009, 12:26PM
“I think we need to start distinguishing between MPs claims which are fraudulent and probably illegal (flipping, avoiding tax) as well as those which are greedy and gratuitous (moats and duck-houses) against the other claims, which were allowed under the old system and that I¿d have claimed for if that was the system where I worked. This idea that ¿they¿re all the same¿ could bring in even more corrupt politicians from extremist parties and odd ball celebrities, which won¿t help democracy”
by bob, Bristol
Wednesday, May 27 2009, 11:35AM
“This is frankly small change.
She should go simply for her voting record.”
by Helen, Bristol
Saturday, May 23 2009, 6:47PM
“She needs to go.
Dishonestly is not a criteria for being an MP or is it!?
Habitat - what's wrong with Ikea, Argos or Tesco.
Does she think these shops are too cheap for her?
I bet if she was paying from her own pocket she wouldn't even step foot in Habitat!”
by Ben, Clifton
Friday, May 22 2009, 9:13PM
“To Jeremy Gardner Kingswood...
I think most people will disagress with you. How our MPs are acting within the expenses system is most definately news that has to be published and most people will want to know about.
Parachuting people into safe Labour seats is an issue perhaps for you and many others, but it is not a matter for these comments.
Please keep to the subject of Ms McCarthy's expenses and please do not distract from that.”
by Jo Walsh, Keynsham
Friday, May 22 2009, 8:26PM
“It may be a mistake regarding the bed, but what about applying for 'reasonable' costs? Why buy at Habitat for example?
I furnished a four bedroom house for £9000 in 2005 and one of these MPs spent £46,000 furnishing a 2-bed flat.”
by Rachel, Bristol
Friday, May 22 2009, 7:17PM
“I have nothing but contempt for many of the claims that have been revealed (and confirmed true) but it's ridiculous to tar all MPs with the same brush and to try to make a story where there isn't one.
The headline here seems to bear no resemblance to the story. It doesn't look like Kerry Mccarthy deliberately claimed for 2 beds or tried to make a profit, she made a mistake which she noticed herself and rectified.
She's chosen to be completely open and honest with her claims and i think that says more about an MP than problems with a shop/ delivery company and subsequent mistake with a list of items.”
by Jeremy Gardner, Kingswood
Friday, May 22 2009, 6:45PM
“I don't think there is a great deal of news on Ms McCarthy's expenses. The real news should have been about Labour parachuting in people to fill seats in 'safe' Labour areas instead of selecting local activists. This will be something else that will no doubt come home to roost at the next election. I live in an area currently represented by Roger Berry but will change to be Bristol East at the next election and I think Ms McCarthy will have difficulty in matching up to Mr Berry as an MP. She has so far failed to impress - no change from her predecessor, Jean Corston.”
by rob, bristol
Friday, May 22 2009, 5:31PM
“I've never liked this woman since she was elected from an all woman selection list. That in my mind is sexual discrimination against men and she should have been opposed to it. Hope she has to resign and then the best person for the job takes her place”
by Moron Watch (aka Soarer), Up a tree watching morons
Friday, May 22 2009, 5:01PM
“If she did have an encounter on the bonnet of a car when she was younger or even last week what on earth has that got to do with anything and how does that make her not fit for purpose? I presume you arent getting it...”