Bristol MP's expenses published
Northavon MP Steve Webb has become the first in the Bristol area to have his expenses made public.
Mr Webb's receipts show a £277 bill for cleaning a flat before he moved, which included £1.27 on Harpic, £1.45 on 10 refuse sacks and 99p for two dusters.
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Bristol MP Steve Webb's expenses have been published
He also submitted £141 for a hotel bill after the sale of the flat temporarily fell through.
After he moved to a new apartment, a short walk from the House of Commons, he also claimed for £750.19 for decorating.
This included "fitting a mirror to alcove", and £426.99 for unblocking drains.
Mr Webb sold his bedsit flat in Westminster for £195,000 in 2006 and bought a one-bedroom home for £280,000.
That meant the mortgage interest payments he claimed for under the Second Homes Allowance went up from £678 to £1,158 per month.
Mr Webb told the Bristol Evening Post he would hand back any profit made when he leaves Parliament and sells the apartment.
He said: "Like most people, I'm angry that some MPs have clearly abused the system. I absolutely share and understand the public anger about this.
"In terms of my claims I think I have gone further than most MPs by saying I will not profit by a penny by having a flat in London.
"This is something I have freely decided. The entire proceeds will go back to the taxpayer.
"I have already paid capital gains tax of around 40 per cent, which means the taxpayer is already in profit by more than £10,000.
"We need an independent body to set the rules and oversee the claims and we need total transparency."
More than 2.4 million receipts covering claims for all MPs will be officially published in July.
13 Comments
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by Vic, Bristol
Friday, May 15 2009, 8:53AM
“Maggie, who are 'these politicians'? That's a big brush you are using to tar people.
Why don't you suggest that Someone ought to do Something about it?”
by maggie, hartcliffe
Thursday, May 14 2009, 9:54PM
“i just hope and cant see any reason why these politicians should not be charged with fraud and taken to court the same as anyone claiming benefit frauduantly would be they are still defrauding the goverment ,and many out of greed maybe if they were not claiming these thousands of pounds the govermsnt could afford to pay the ganuine people on benefit more money so they could live ,these politicians should be punished more so as they are suppose to be responsible people looking after the people in this country not stealing from them”
by peter greenfield, thornbury
Thursday, May 14 2009, 7:51PM
“I used to vote tory until steve webb appeared. He is a great constituency m.p.and his expense claims just show his integrity .he has my vote next time.sooner the better”
by Annette Hennessy, Portishead
Thursday, May 14 2009, 7:31PM
“Gerry is right - Councillors may well be quaking in their boots that they are next to have their expenses scrutinised. With services and amenities being lost due to budget cuts, I think this could make interesting reading.”
by Simon B, Severn Beach
Thursday, May 14 2009, 4:58PM
“I'm delighted to see that Steve Webb has reaffirmed my faith in him as my constituency MP by publishing these not unreasonable expenses.
If only there were more decent politicians like him.”
by gerry, bristol
Thursday, May 14 2009, 4:09PM
“While we are on the subject why not take a look at local councilor's, we already know of one bristol councillor claiming expenses and not living in the country.”
by MisterX, Just oustide Bristle
Thursday, May 14 2009, 1:55PM
“How refreshing!
Mr Webb has helped me, as his constituent, personally out on several occasions now and I have found him a genuine, attentive, honest, caring and hard working man who actually cares about his job and actually gives a fig about people and wants to make a difference. We have all read about those feeding at the trough in the last few weeks and it stinks so how nice to read a *positive* report in the BEP about a politician who not only seems but from experience *can* be trusted.
Despite all the shenanigans elsewhere at least we in South Gloucs have something and someone to be proud of - well done Steve Webb!”
by benh, caldicot
Thursday, May 14 2009, 11:04AM
“With all of these MP's of all parties repaying so much money from 'permitted' claims, does that mean we will now be out of the recession?
Its about time this was leaked, the con merchants (again from all parties) have had an open cheque book for far too long and with no one apparently checking them”
by m, emersons (used to be) Green
Thursday, May 14 2009, 9:52AM
“Well, good man. If this is the worst anyone can pin on him (and having a flat cleaned before moving in seems totally reasonable - and I suspect the cleaners bought the cleaning materials and passed the charge on), then what a breath of fresh air.
Maybe I'd better change my opinion of all these politicians just lining their own pockets at our expense.
Well done Steve.”
by Vic, Bristol
Thursday, May 14 2009, 9:17AM
“This is getting ridiculous. What is the point in publishing receipts from MPs for every last expense item claimed? I can understand the larger sums being reported, particularly where the MP has profited immorally from the system, but in Steve Webb's case, all those minor items are trivial and, I think, quite justified.
In this case, I'm in support of Steve Webb. He is serving his constituents well, spending long periods of time away from his young family, working hard, and being open in publication of his expenses.
When you look at someone like Steve Webb, a professor and an expert in his field, he could earn considerably more than an MP's salary were he to choose to work in the private sector. However, he has effectively handed over his life to serve his community, which is the very bedrock on which our society is based.
All those moaning should either shut up or put up ¿ not necessarily stand for Parliament, but get out there and do something positive for your community.”