MPs' expenses
Because MPs in the UK work in London and have homes in their constituencies, they granted themselves allowances to help with the costs of maintaining two residences. Last summer, some of the claims for reimbursement made news and caused problems for MPs who wanted money for things like a moat, HD TVs (and brackets), and exterminating garden snails.Tory chief David Cameron, from a wealthy family, was revealed to have claimed over £1,000 a month for a mortgage as well as over £1,200 for fuel oil and a web site.
Labor MPs also had submitted some dodgy expenses.
All parties were quick to publicize opponents' questionable claims. Now, the government's defense minister is in the dock.
Did anyone mention that there's an election coming up before next summer?
Labour minister Quentin Davies submitted £20,700 bill for repairs to bell tower
Labour minister Quentin Davies submitted a £20,700 bill for repairs to the roof and bell tower on his constituency home last year – then rushed to clarify that he was not seeking the full amount when the expenses row broke in the summer.
The defence minister and MP for Grantham and Stamford asked for reimbursement for a bill covering repairs to the "bell tower and lead gutter" for the work to the roof of his stately home in Lincolnshire in December 2008. It included restoration work using handmade York bricks and lead guttering...
He estimated that half of the cost was for the roof, of which half of that amount could be met by the taxpayer. Because that amount would have taken his total annual claim to the limit he submitted the entire amount and asked fees officials to pay the £24,006 limit...
Davies is a parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Defence. He has been MP for Grantham and Stamford since 1987. He defected from the Conservatives to Labour in 2007.
See also The Guardian's (UK) summary of the issue.
Find out What You Need to Know
Labels: corruption, politics, UK
posted by Ken Wedding @ 5:56 AM
1 Comments:
Four British Lawmakers Charged Over Expenses
"Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecution, said Friday that three members of the House of Commons and one member of the House of Lords had been charged with offenses including false accounting…
"A report Thursday on the scandal ordered 392 current and former British legislators to repay a total of 1.12 million pounds ($1.7 million)."
Post a Comment
<< Home