Afternoon:
12°c
Jacqui, we’re all on the gravy train
Joe Murphy, Nicholas Cecil and Paul Waugh30.03.09
THE row over the Commons gravy train deepened today as Jacqui Smith and other MPs were revealed to be claiming the maximum or near to the limit they are allowed for second homes.
The Home Secretary claimed £22,948 in second home allowances last year for her family home in Redditch — while classifying her sister's spare bedroom at her house in London as her main residence.
The money was used to run and kit out her family home in the Midlands, and all was within the rules.
Ms Smith's latest claim takes the total she has claimed over seven years for her family home to just under £139,000. Ms Smith's overall expenses claim for last year, including travel, office and staffing costs, was £157,631. That sum included 25 travel claims by her husband, Richard Timney, costing £2,531.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who today appeared with Ms Smith and Mr Brown at the welcoming ceremony for the Mexican president, charged £17,387 for a second home.
As public anger mounted, the Prime Minister suddenly announced a pay freeze for all ministers. The decision was taken by Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling. It freezes the Prime Minister's salary at £194,250, while a Cabinet minister is on £141,866. MPs will get a pay rise of 2.33 per cent from Wednesday. The rise takes their parliamentary pay, before allowances, up from £63,291 to around £64,766.
New figures published by Parliament this afternoon revealed what MPs claimed last year. London MP Ann Keen charged £167,306 in expenses and office costs. Her total was only exceeded by Scottish MP Eric Joyce when travel expenses from north of the border were included.
With her husband Alan Keen's claim of £146,408, the Keens claimed together a total of over £310,000 last year.
Mrs Keen is MP for Brentford and Isleworth while he is MP for Feltham and Heston. They have been under fire for claiming expenses for second homes even though they live in London and represent London constituencies. She claimed £18,338 for a second home last year. He claimed £19,855.
The Keens have claimed nearly £1.7 million over seven years in total expenses and allowances including for a second home, office staff, travel, correspondence and other office costs.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was allowed to claim £21,131 for staying away from home even though he does not take up his seat in the Commons.
The Prime Minister claimed £17,073 in accommodation expenses for a second home, even though he lives at No 10 Downing Street free.
David Cameron claimed £19,626 for his second home in Oxfordshire, while Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg claimed £23,083.
Dawn Butler, MP for Brent South, claimed £151,326 in expenses, including £23,083, the maximum possible, for running a second home even though her “main residence” and her second home are both within 11 miles of the Commons.
Harry Cohen, the Leyton and Wanstead MP, claimed £23,083 for a second home He says his main residence is a house in Colchester and a seaside caravan.
Minister for London Tony McNulty claimed £12,600 for a second home — a property in his Harrow East constituency where his parents live.
Husband and wife ministers Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper claimed £12,219 each for a second home.
They were cleared recently of breaking Commons rules by putting down constituency residences as second homes although they live most of the week in London.
Boris Johnson, who was MP for Henley until last year, claimed £23,083 for second home expenses.
Others who claimed the full amount included John Prescott, Chief Whip Geoff Hoon, Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, Tory deputy chief whip Andrew Robathan, Ulster Secretary Shaun Woodward, Universities Secretary John Denham, former home secretary David Blunkett, and Children's Minister Beverley Hughes.
Disgraced former Tory MP Derek Conway claimed £23,033 for a second home. He was rebuked for paying his sons for non-jobs from his allowances.
MPs are allowed to charge for a variety of costs, including staffing and other office costs.
Critics say that the system allows them to convert the allowance for staying away from home into a nest egg while some hire relatives as assistants at the public expense.
Sir John Baker, former chairman of the Senior Salaries Review Body which recommends MPs' pay levels, said today: “It's in MPs' own hands to give up their rights in this matter, not wait months for yet another review. We've had dozens of reviews.”
Reader views (46)
Jacqui Smith is a bloody ultra-partisan feeding like a pig on the public dole. How long must we call for her to resign?
- Niles W, London, UK
And I thougth it was just the Zimbabwian goverment that were sucking the blood from their countries - Shame on all of you - Bet you don't hand back your pension when you leave - and leave you will
Thieves
- Heather Kennedy, Bangor, Northern Ireland
I have been thinking of suitable video titles for Mr Jacqui Smith. How about "Home Sexretary" and "Plug Me"
Any other suggestions?
- Antony, London, UK
BY LAW EVERY MP STANDING FOR REELECTION SHOULD HAVE TO PRINT THE EXPENSES CLAIMED IN LAST FIVE YARS> PREFERABLY IN THE FIRST SENTENCE< I MP FOT THIS CONSTITUENCY, AS YOUR HANDS IN TILL REPRESENTATIVE, HAVE CLAIMED THE FOLLOWING HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH OF EXPENSES> IF REELECTED I HOPE T CLAIM A SIMILAR SUM
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
Sack the lot of them!
- Kerry Costi, Bishops Stortford
You can description all this politely as 'modern corruption'
- Elly, London, UK
It seems to have all the hallmarks of the final days of the previous Tory Government. The collapse is happening, the last act will probably be the G20 summit, that in turn appears to be headed for failure. It is well known that turkeys don't vote for Christmas, but those who can vote at the next election will most surely remove New-Labour. It's a great sadness that the main architect, Mr Blair is not around to suffer the humiliation of the public's rejection.
- J R J, Glen Vine
"Jacqui, we’re all on the gravy train"
The public say -"next stop general election- END OF THE LINE for you thieves!"
- Steve, london
What gross hideous hypocrisy!!! Politicians should not be allowed to get away with this unjustifiable greed. And Labour politicians spout fairness and claim to help the poor, and then carry on like this. It’s totally unacceptable and truly disgusting.
Is there anything left in this country that is not in a total disastrous mess?
- Xtremely Worried, UK
Smith, Tony McNulty and Dawn Butler all ought to resign. If they won't Brown should stop being so weak and sack them.
- Graham, Ilford Essex
Before you all get more depressed and rush off to visit to other countries immigration offices just remember that the curly tails sticking out of taxpayers public troughs are not confined just to the UK. Consider the Aussies plight, seven state and one territory parliaments, a federal parliament, thousands upon thousands of local authorities councillors etc, etc, all with their snouts buried deep into the public till. We deserve to be ripped off because we allow them to set their own salaries and expenses and we don't get to know about it until it's all done and dusted. Democracy, don't make me laugh, more like a schmuckocracy perhaps.
- Len, Perth, Australia
I trust the Inland Revenue will let me claim my Virgin TV package against my self assesment tax return?
- Simon, London
I hope these people can examine themselves and look at the state of the National Health..The Immigration problem...the stabbings and violence...the people losing their homes and jobs..Can they be honest and say...Im doing a good job? Or....Im doing this job because I cant cope ?
- G H, BRISTOL
It said on the news last week that this situation will not be confronted by any party or politicians regardless as they will not wish to lose their perks either. That is DISGUSTING. The while system is sick.
- Real, London
Porn? An allowable expense? What business would ever allow you to claim this? Ridiculous....
How on earth do they call themselves Honourable? Very disappointing.
- Richard, Winchester, UK
Jacqui Smith really knows no shame!
Not content with paying her husband £40,000 a year and expenses galore she claims for an 88p plug.
Shameful and greedy
- Kimberley, Redditch England
why do they need a rise they seem to just put everything on expenses, they dont need to buy or pay for anything.
- Ken, paris,frane
The expenses rules were set up by the previous Conservative administration and have been abused by members of all political parties ever since. This may come as a surprise in the rarified heights of Hampstead.
If every politician who has abused this system is forced to resign, we wouldn't have any politicians left. Whether or not that is a good thing is open to debate.
- Andrew, London W1
Aren't British politicians an absolute disgrace!
- Mark A, Warrington England
This all reminds me why I left the UK.
- Left The Uk, WI
Jacqui, I live in Redditch and all we want is for you to resign, resign, resign. You have brought disgrace on yourself and you are a complete and utter laughing stock. You are no longer fit for purpose, so please show a bit of decency and go and go quickly!
- Richard, Redditch, Worcestershire, England
I own and run my own business and have to be accountable for every penny of my expenses and the Revenue are almost clear as to what may be cleared. Why should MPs not be accountable for everything they spend on expenses?
I used to work with a 'real' Londoner whose favourite expression was 'come the revolution I would shoot the lot of them'. Somehow I think he was right they are for the most a waste of space and whats more MONEY!
- Colin King, Southsea
Jacqui Set and Example and - GO!, any other so called "employee" would be dissmissed. This begs the question again... regards "National Security" - If she cannot even take care of personal matters even closer to home....what else minute by minute is she also over looking.... last year alone 25 Million records whent else can we expect to be over-looked.....??????
- T Watkins, Rip off Britain
So I will just wander down to my boss, in the private sector, and tell him that I need a 2.33% pay rise and want to put my morgage on my expenses claim, oh and dont forget to buy me a new washing machine and pay my cable bill!
- Dene Wood, Grays, Essex, That little country by the sea that used to have
I think George Orwell said it best:
"some animals are more equal than others"
oink oink
- Jingleed, bangkok thailand
Its quite simple really, if an MP has made a false statement in making a claim he/she can be prosecuted for fraud.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England
Well done - showing these comments about one of the most disgraceful situations in post-War UK political history. The greed and conduct of ALL THESE PEOPLE passes belief. They're all in it together, snouts in the trough.
But, please remember that MPs are not the only people on this expenses gravy train. There are HUNDREDS of government officials all collecting up "expenses", and hundreds more in all the government agencies, the police, the BBC and everything else in the public arena- all paid for by us, the public.
Pensioners are expected to live on about 5K, so are the unemployed and numerous others. This is less than one quarter of what CAMERON gets just for running a second home! And he is careful compared with the Labour parasites.
Next, please think of ANY political party which may have the willpower and courage to sort all this out.
James de la Mare London
- James De La Mare, London UK
"Carry on Regardless" was a film farce and Jacqui is the superstar-Will she be nominated for an Oscar i wonder.
- Harvey Lawrence, London UK
There's a very simple way to stop this. Build a Halls of Residence like students have, with 650 rooms, one for every MP. If they need to stay overnight in London they will have a nearby base with a bed, a desk to do their paperwork, and a private bathroom. Something basic but secure and guaranteed availability, and still better than the accommodation some people struggle to pay for in this city. As they will have this option they then cannot claim for any properties they own (or share with their parents). If they really need something better they'll have to pay for it themselves.
Or if they don't like it they can get a job in the real world, where they might be surprised to find that in these better-paid jobs they claim they could get elsewhere, you can't automatically employ your husband or wife, expenses aren't a means to bump up your salary, bosses actually check your receipts and they also expect results in return for the salary they pay.
- Karen, Barnet
And they expect us to turn out to vote for them.
- Stan, Heywood
What a lovely example to our young people!!(Not to mention the rest of the world)
No mention of Tony Bliar - I suppose he will hide behind his religion. You only have to look at the NHS to see how endemic ripping off the public is.
Would you trust them!!!!
President Brown won't do anything - he's got his pension to worry about!!!
You cannot teach except by example - Everybody who doesn't pay tax or road tax etc is only following the example of our so called leaders!!!!
- Frank Smith, Bishops Stortford, UK
Completely disillushioned, with the lot of them. How can we feel any respect.? What a bunch to be running our Country . Little wonder Britain is inn the state it is in. Next time I am voting for the green Party.
- Elsie Whyte, Bangor N.Ireland
No more Crash Gordon team, no more Nu Labor.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
If Miss Jacqui Smith MP, Home Secratry truly was the "Honorable Member for....." then she should resign forthwith. Her credibility amongst the public and especially the Police Service must be severely damaged. Why should any Police Officer or Law and Orders employee really have any confidence at all in our political masters.
It should have penetrated the collective fog of New Labour's labyrythine mind that it is best to shut up shop, pack their bags and call an early general election. There are no doubt more scandals hiding in the wings as the 'Well of Labour Sleaze' keeps bubbling away until it erupts so the 'The Smelly Stuff Hits The Rotating Device.
Mr Brown is also looking more and more isolated. A man with a 'Failed Mission', a man falling apart at the seams. Time to go methinks.
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK
Jackie Smith dug this hole when she claimed her home was her second "home." Why trust anyone in public life who shows contempt for honesty?
- Overtaxed, Farnham UK
I understand Jackie Smith pays her husband £40,000 a year, out of her allowances, to do her clerking for her. What kind of highly paid clerk "inadvertently forgets" that he has been watching blue movies at taxpayers' expense?
- Alex, London
As someone who works in Westminster and understands how the system works I don't think its fair to bonk MP's who live beyond commuting distance from London for claiming second home allowances- you can't expect Scottish MP's to make a 3 hour commute daily up and down the West Coast Main Line. On the other hand, this Dawn Butler equidistant business does stink to high heaven. If you live within commuting distance to London, you shouldn't be claiming second home allowances- it's downright wrong.
- E, London
The government in like a dead fish, rotten from the head down.
- Kris, London
The only way for MPs to take any notice of the taxpayer is to have a big protest march to westminster, the people of this country just let them away with it, I for one would join in, LET US STAND TOGETHER,
- Alex., brighton
The entire business of MP's "expenses" stinks to high heaven.
If they had to pay for the privilege of being an M.P. the House of Conmen would empty faster than rats deserting a sinking ship.
Nothing but hypocrites.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK
perhaps every currently serving mp should be banned from ever seeking public office again as all seem tarred with the same brush and the slow drip of abuse and shame seems
endless.
at the very least any of them seeking re election should publish ALL their perks and pension claims for the period they've served and renounce any further 'dubious' claims should they have the temerity to poke their snouts into the trough again.
as for the present, perhaps each and every one of them could spare us all the water torture and own up en masse now.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
Yes, and Chris Grayling, Shadow Home Secretary, claimed £104k for his London flat, when his family home is just 17 miles from Westminster. And this honest person will be the next Home Secretary if ever the Tories are elected. Details can be found on the Mirror website, and there is also a nice piece about William Hague's claim for a second home, although he 'only' claimed £65k. Of course he needs the money, he only has an income of £800k p.a.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Surely if these allowances are for second homes essential to MPs being able to do their jobs, the moment they cease to be elected the properties should be sold and the revenue generated returned to the coffers of the Government. Simple and fair.
- Steve, London
Should see them nicely through to retirement, then.
And just think of that wonderful juicy pension.
Each!
Just a little inconvenient, this temporary embarrassment though, as they were probably intending to make their glorious media farewells to Parliament and Party on leaving Westminster next summer!
- Dave, Cumbria
The sooner we have a general election the better.
- Joe, Swanley Kent
Filling their boots at our expense. Time for revolution.
- Andrew, Leaving the sinking ship England