Politicians living near Keens don't claim for second home

The health minister and her husband, nicknamed "Mr and Mrs Expenses", have claimed for the second property since 2001 despite having a house in Brentford, only a 23-minute commute from Westminster.

Last week, it was revealed that Mrs Keen, MP for Brentford and Isleworth, claimed the most expenses of any British MP, charging £167,306, including £18,338 for the couple's £500,000 second home on the South Bank.

Mr Keen, who represents Feltham and Heston, claimed £19,855 for the same second home. But now the Standard has learned that three other MPs, including a Secretary of State and a minister, commute to Westminster from London homes only minutes from the Keens' constituency property.

Home Office minister and MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth Phil Woolas lives one street away from the Keens' Brentford home, making their journeys into Westminster almost identical.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn lives less than two miles away in Chiswick. It takes the MP for Leeds Central approximately 20 minutes to get to the House of Commons by car, compared with 23 minutes for the Keens.

Shadow universities secretary David Willetts, who represents Havant, lives less than three miles from the Keens, again around 20 minutes from Westminster. However, the Keens have not broken any Commons rules.

Politicians and neighbours today condemned their expenses payments. Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, said: "This is yet another example of the reason we need to change the system. The public won't wear MPs claiming £24,000 in taxpayers' money for a second home when they could easily commute.

"Parliament can't withstand these scandals week after week. We just need to urgently reform the system."

Constituents branded Mrs Keen's expenses claims "disgusting" and said voters in the area were turning against her.

Neighbour Ben Speirs, 25, said: "What she is doing is absolutely disgusting. The amount she is claiming at our expense is ludicrous, particularly with the financial situation the way it is. Three other MPs live nearby and seem to think it is close enough to Westminster, yet she is taking liberties claiming for her South Bank home.

"People in her constituency are scrimping and saving while she is claiming their money. She has lost a lot of local voters."

Duncan Davidson, 55, has lived opposite Mrs Keen's Brentford home for 20 years. He said: "The commute from her house to Westminster is an absolute doddle and three other MPs obviously find it easy. I've seen Alan around a couple of times, but I haven't seen Ann for quite a while. I don't think she wants to show her face. There are a lot of people who think what she is doing is completely out of order and the worst thing is, she has been doing it for years."

Neighbours said that ongoing renovations to the Keens' home had suddenly stopped in the last few weeks as the expenses row exploded again.

The Keens have claimed nearly £1.7million over seven years in total expenses and allowances including for a second home, office staff, travel, correspondence and other office costs.

MPs have defended the second home allowance by claiming they need somewhere to stay overnight close to Westminster, rather than having to travel back to their constituencies.