Tonight:
5°c
Make MPs sell second homes says Clegg
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor9 Apr 2009
GORDON BROWN is to be urged to force MPs to sell their second homes and return profits to the taxpayer.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is to suggest the radical proposal when he meets the Prime Minister and David Cameron in an effort to end the damaging row over Commons allowances.
Under the plans, MPs would no longer be able to claim their mortgage interest payments on expenses. MPs who already have second properties would be given 36 months before their mortgage interest payments were no longer funded.
Those who sold their second homes would have to return to the taxpayer some of the mortgage interest they had claimed out of the profits.
Reader views (18)
The are the poor and the rich. The worst of these is the third class. The political elite that think normal rules do not apply to them. I was shocked to read the taxpayers in Britain have to make the payments on these houses for the elected but I understand as our political elite pass laws which they exempt themselves from day after day.
As America wakes up and throws our political snobs out of office I hope our cousins across the sea do the same. The political elite are the root of all evil.
- James Andrews, sacramento, California USA, 12/04/2009 01:31
Report abuse
Re lol, Yes!. Clearly they have have broken the Law. The 2006 Fraud Act; to be specific sections 2)Fraud by False Representation and 4) fraud by Abuse of Position.
No matter how they howl or grunt, MPs' are NOT exempt from this Law by virtue of Position (See section 4) and should be prosecuted hearwith.
- Frank, Bristol UK, 11/04/2009 21:13
Report abuse
The homes do not belong to the MP's. They took taxpayers money, under false pretences of claiming as expenses but ran them like resdiential letting businesses. Hoon, Smith, McNulty, Balls and Cooper are paid as MP's not to use money from the public for their residential buy to let businesses. As well as debarring them for dishonesty, they should be fined and they and their relatives should have Revenue investigations. How has Smith's sister declared the £2,000 a month from the taxpayer, via the Peckham Lodger (Home Secretary Smith)?
- Lol, mandelieloan uk, 11/04/2009 10:07
Report abuse
Alternate suggestion - when they lose their jobs in parliament (as a lot of Labour MPs are going to do next election), let them lose the accommodation that went with it, the accommodation paid for by the people who voted them in and then out of their government cash-cow jobs.
- Rogan, Irving, 11/04/2009 07:17
Report abuse
That's a great idea. But better still would be to build a University-style dorm or barracks next to Parliament where the poor darlings - who sacrifice SO MUCH to represent us - can kip overnight if need be. In fact, there actually IS a barracks in Petty France - so conveniently next to Downing Street and the Home Office and a short hop to Parliament. AND the MoD isn't adverse to flogging off barracks - look at Chelsea - so it looks like a win-win-win situation to me!
- Roz, France, 10/04/2009 13:43
Report abuse
Why get all complex, just apply the same rules to MP's that we al have to abide by i.e Capital gains, Stamp Duty, Rates, expenses and most of all pension rules, why should they get any better than the rest of us!
Simple really, then, they might realise just how much they are thieving from decent hard working folk.
In essence, even the self righteous "White Knight" Nick Clegg is in reality still prepared to feather his own nest at our expense.
Tax rules the same for all people across the board, that's the only fair way.
I think that it is both rich and immoral that MP's expect to get away with all this betterment and have the cheek to lecture us about austerity, they are "HAVING A LAUGH"!!!!!
- George, Hempstead, 10/04/2009 11:53
Report abuse
Clearly, this is the "first sensible idea" to come out of our parliament for a long, long time . . . Perhaps EVEN since New Labour came to power!
That said, in respect of mortgage interest payments the lead-in time for MPs with second properties should be reduced to 12 months as properties could "easily be sold" within this timeline. Furthermore, the "equity" on sale of their scond properties MUST be "returned to the public purse" as the taxpayer has been funding the purchase!
Why not simply build a luxury hotel type resort (owned by the taxpayer) where MPs are permitted to stay if working late and/or unable to return to their constituency homes, which will have numerous state of the art luxury meeting rooms available to entertain foreign dignitaries? The cost for staying there and/or entertaining these foreign dignitaries could then be charged-back to the individual MP's constituency budget. These charge-backs would obviously be both transparent and a matter of public record.
- Fraser, Telford Park, 10/04/2009 11:37
Report abuse
I agree they should sell second homes and return any profit to the government.The government should build secure blocks of flats then they would be able to protect the MP`s and have complete control of housing costs and value to the tax payer. MP`s also should not be alowed to employ persons from their family as this also is open to abuse.
- Barbus, Liverpool, 10/04/2009 10:44
Report abuse
Socialists would not want a second home - would they ?
- Wills, Soton, 10/04/2009 05:39
Report abuse
At the very least ex-MP’s should return all useable items
to the state for distribution by charities for needy folk.
- P. C., rainham. essex., 10/04/2009 00:24
Report abuse
sounds like a good idea but you know its not going to happen they dont even pay back the money they have taken wrongly
- Cassandra, uk, 09/04/2009 17:08
Report abuse
Why give them 3 years by which time the worst offenders will already have ripped of the UK simply stop it now.
- Mike, London England, 09/04/2009 16:52
Report abuse
At last someone is willing to admit what the electorate have been saying all along - i.e. these "second" homes have been bought and furnished with tax payers' money and when MPs fail to be re-elected then the properties must be sold and the money returned to the public purse. Failing that they could be retained by the government and "rented" out to another MP who claims to need a second home to enable him/her to do the job. MPs must NOT be allowed to claim ownership of tax payer's property.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 09/04/2009 16:21
Report abuse
And about time too. These expenses claims have become something of a racket because town councils do the same. Some councilors drive their councilor wives to meetings and then mileage allowance is claimed plus the rest of the added on bits.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 09/04/2009 16:07
Report abuse
Gets my vote!!!
- Jeremy E, London, 09/04/2009 16:05
Report abuse
ONCE AGAIN NICK CLEGG COMES UP WITH A BRILLIANT SUGGESTION BUT THEY SHOULD ALSO PAY CAPITAL GAINS TAX
- Alan Green, Woodford Green, 09/04/2009 16:00
Report abuse
What they need is a set of modest serviced apartments, safe for MPs with security. No need for a second home near parliament and silly costs, then it can be handed on to their successor. It will save a lot of money and stop them claiming for silly things if they are all provided identically (much like council houses)
- Mike, London, 09/04/2009 15:59
Report abuse
Exactly what most of us posting on here have been saying for the past 2 weeks - glad you are reading, Nick.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 09/04/2009 15:10
Report abuse
