'Expenses scandal over' as Bristol MPs stick to rules
THE days of MPs' expenses scandals have been declared over after the latest batch of claims were published.
MPs from across the Bristol area cost taxpayers just over £1.35 million in travel, office and accommodation costs in 2011/12.
This was around £300,000 higher than the previous year. But yesterday's figures related to a longer period of time, because the timing of the 2010 General Election meant that the 2010/11 figures related to a shorter period of time.
Bristol South Labour MP Dawn Primarolo proved the most expensive, claiming £159,127 costs.
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There was a wide variation in MPs' second home accommodation costs, with wealthy Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg not claiming anything, while the four Bristol MPs were reimbursed between £15,969 and £19,265.
North Somerset Tory MP Liam Fox, who left his grace-and-favour flat part-way through the year after quitting as Defence Secretary, now pays monthly rent of almost £2,000 on a London flat.
Travel costs between Bristol and London also varied, with Mr Rees-Mogg again claiming nothing, and Kingswood Tory MP Chris Skidmore refusing to claim for petrol costs.
Expenses are managed by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which was set up in the wake of the 2009 scandal, which saw MPs castigated for bizarre and extravagant claims, and "flipping" their second homes to maximise payments.
IPSA chairman Sir Ian Kennedy said expenses claims were now published every month following the "shocking" reports in 2009.
He said three things were clear from the new figures.
"First, the expenses scandal is behind us," said Sir Ian. "Remember what it was like – report after report of MPs claiming for all sorts of things; ' flipping' homes; no system of scrutiny; and all this behind closed doors.
"That world is behind us. We have overhauled the system and the expenses scandal is clearly history.
"Second, MPs are keeping to the rules. Ninety-nine per cent of claims are within the new rules. So it isn't just us doing our job – MPs are behaving responsibly and claiming within the rules.
"Third, we are talking about significant sums of money. We should be clear about this. We are publishing the details of £89 million worth of costs and expenses – about the same like for like sum as last year."
Sir Ian said people had to expect a cost if they wanted a service from MPs, pointing out that the majority of the outlay related to staffing offices.
He added: "If we want a good service from our MPs, we have to fund them.
"And if you don't think you get a good service from your MP, the answer is not to withhold funding – it is to use your vote."
Comments
by ceembee
Friday, September 07 2012, 9:10PM
“Declaring something over does not necessarily make it true. I say a close watch needs to be maintained permanently.
MP's do alright for themselves & should not be allowed any increases at all other than cost of living after all they are keen enough on keeping everyone else's pay rises (apart from their director mates) to 0%.
Bunch of hypocrites.”
by johnlbell
Friday, September 07 2012, 5:41PM
“I am a taxpaying citizen voter of the UK who has been studying the fraudulent claims by MPs since the Conway Scandal!
A number of articles have been flagged up today in my website which appear to me near identical to this one - apart from the references to the local MP - in a number of local newspapers acroos the country!
I note that nowhere in these articles is there ANY reference to the fact that expenses/allowances claimed by MPs has increased 26% for the year 2010-11.
There is also a matching lack of any mention of the large increase in expenses/allowances 'fiddle money' announced for MPs (VERY quietly!) just before the Budget which affected the rest of us and will enable a further large( and uncontested!) increase in claims for 2012-13!
Call me innocent ...... but, .....
Are we not being exhorted to tighten our belts, BY POLITICIANS, in these times of 'austerity'?
I would be interested to hear from any OTHER full taxpaying citizen voter who is being awarded 30+% increase in income!”