Afternoon:
10°c
The Labour peer at the centre of the latest parliamentary allowances row is a social housing tenant who appears to have benefited from a second taxpayer subsidy on her London home.
Baroness Uddin already faces accusations of profiteering after reports she claimed £100,000 in Lords allowances by designating an empty flat in Maidstone as her main residence.
Five neighbours said that bedrooms in the property were unfurnished and they had never seen anyone there.
Today it emerged that Lady Uddin's genuine main home, where she lives and is registered to vote, is a housing association property - the modern equivalent of a council house.
Peter Golds, the Tory opposition leader in Tower Hamlets where the baroness lives, described the revelation as "extraordinary", saying: "This borough has some of the most desperate housing need in Britain.
"I think the 20,000 people on the council's waiting list would be interested to know what a prosperous Labour peer who can afford a property in Kent is doing in social housing."
Baroness Uddin's three-bedroom house, built in the early Nineties, is in a quiet street in Wapping. A plaque on the side of a neighbouring property makes clear that both it and Lady Uddin's house belong to Spitalfields Housing Association.
The association received a public subsidy of £37.8million last year. The average rent for its properties is £104 a week, a sixth of the market rate.
However, even without her allowances from the Lords, Baroness Uddin, 49, is well above the income bracket to qualify for social housing. She has held a number of highly-remunerated directorships at major companies, including former ITV giant Carlton Television, and was a senior employee and parliamentary consultant for the Excelcare nursing home group.
Before that, she worked for many years as a senior social services manager in the borough of Newham. She currently holds two paid jobs, with the Home Office and the philanthropic wing of the Zurich insurance giant.
Because she claims her main residence is outside London, Lady Uddin is also entitled to collect up to £174 every day she attends the Lords for the cost of accommodation in the capital. The amount is paid to peers without the need to produce receipts and many claim the maximum every day they attend.
Baroness Uddin claimed a total of £29,675 for accommodation in 2007/8, a time when the maximum daily accommodation claim was £165 a day. Her bill represents a claim at the maximum possible rate for 179 days, more days than the Lords actually sat that year.
It is not clear what rent Baroness Uddin pays on her Wapping property. It is possible that she pays a full market rent to the housing association but since the Lords requires no receipts it is also possible that she pays, or has paid, the normal subsidised rent and still claims the full £174 daily allowance.
"Whatever rent Lady Uddin pays, she is depriving a low-income family of a home which was built for the needy at public expense," said Mr Golds. "She has a great deal of explaining to do."
Baroness Uddin, who faces calls for a police inquiry into her expenses claims, failed to return phone calls asking about her rent from the Standard yesterday. When we called at the Wapping house last night a man, believed to be her husband, refused to answer questions or comment.
On Friday, in response to the original story, Baroness Uddin issued a statement through solicitors saying: "The Wapping house is rented, while I own the property in Maidstone.
"I do not believe that I have done anything wrong or breached any House of Lords rules. Should the relevant House of Lords authorities wish to investigate the matter I will, of course, co-operate fully."
Reader views (49)
I think tower hamlets leader should gave her a medal because she is tower hamlets baroness and she is in front page of world news papers,
We should be proud of her she has don good job, she made us famous in the world
- Ali Ahmed, tower hamlets. london, 20/06/2009 19:41
Report abuse
Like all the other politicians who have been caught on the fiddle, she says "I do not believe that I have done anything wrong or breached any rules."
That is the problem; they don't know the difference between right and wrong. If they stay within the rules (which they make themselves) that is one thing, but it doesn't make it right.
- P Smith, Luton, UK, 28/05/2009 02:41
Report abuse
it's ironic that one of the few speeches that the noble Baroness made in the House of Lords concerned the lack of social housing in the area where she and her family occupy social housing. This is what she said: “My Lords, does my noble friend accept that our policy on homeless families impacts greatly on those who are waiting on the list? Is she aware that about 25,000 families are on the waiting list in east London?" The hypocrisy is stunning!
- Elisabeth Stevens, london, uk, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Yet another Labourite useless, incompetent liar with her dripping snout in the trough.
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Absolutely incredible. Surely, this is a matter for the Metropolitan Police, but I am not holding my breath. Like the old "nomenklatura" in Soviet Russia these people are immune from prosecution. No wonder they take advantage!
- Dc Mallett, Langport, UK, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Labour need to be kicked out. Sign up now to get rid of Gordon:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/please-go/
- Chris Collins, glasgow, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
What a waste of taxpayers money. Who cares?
- Surj, london, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Barones Uddin lives in subsidised housing so that she can experience first hand how 'the other halve' lives and become an expert on this subject. All above board and within the rules. Ahem.
- Adrian, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
isnt it strange. joe and joess public can solve all this finacial skullduggery at a drop of a hat. yet our political masters need reviews,meetings etc.im lost for words.i give up
- Mikeee, peterborough uk, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Perhaps the coppers who rushed into the Palace of Westminster to arrest Damian Green on trumped-up charges have some time on her handss to take a look at what this despicable scrounger has been up to.
- Edna Bin, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
How many more MPs/peers' corrupt claims are we going to have to fund before the fraud squad is called in? Tacky Jacqui Smith is trying to divert attention from this scandal by "naming and shaming" 16 people who have been denied entry into the UK. We need all these amoral politicians named and shamed and brought before the courts.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
What does one expect? Third world politicians, third world politics. Labour favours the minorities and despises the indigenous. Sleazy, politics from rich socialists.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
They're all at it, Every one of 'em! Our MP now owns 3 houses.
Not bad for an ex ferry worker.
- Rod, Dover, Kent, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Good old British ducking and diving.
- Welcome To Hell, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Another day. Another pig with its snout in the trough.
Joe Public is about to explode.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Her claim that she spends time living in the Kent property can't be too hard to prove - perhaps she can simply show the electricity and gas bills for the last year? I have a funny feeling they'll show close to zero usage...A POLICE *CRIMINAL* INVESTIGATION must be launched into this alleged fraud and they should look at electricity/gas usage and take the neighbours statements. Another NuLabour "socialist" caught with snout in the trough.
- J Smith, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
I just hope the media dont let this go,how the hell do people like this get away with it,it is about time something was done, but i doubt it.
- Alex., brighton, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Hope she ends up under wet cardboard in a doorway somewhere. The caring, sharing face of NuLab!
- David Ball, Bristol, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
"I do not believe that I have done anything wrong or breached any House of Lords rules"
In which case, your belief system is way out of kilter with that of the electorate. Not that you need to worry about the electorate of course, since you are doubtless in the Lords via a donation to the Labour party.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
I'm actually lost for words!
- Peter Brown, London, UK, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
This is plain arrogance - time for a change of government!
- Mark, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Kick them all out, as another writer said the only person to enter parliment with good intent was Guy Fawkes!
- Mike, London England, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Good girl, for doing your job (earning your money for doing something rather than NOTHING) and making the best of your situation legally. She's not the only one at it though is she..? Just take a stroll down John Lewis's and Harrods to say the least.
And as for hard up families, they should get up and find a job and i dont mean picking and choosing, beggars cant be choosers remember..! Or maybe they can as the benefit system tends to accommodate their lifestyle so why work??
These waiting lists for social housing, just what percentage of it is for single mothers from silly teen pregancies and drug/alcohol rehabers..leave them in the gutter where they belong, and watch the list shrink leaving more of the taxpayers money in the pot for a rainy day to help bail out banks, ooops sorry i meant lay on their xmas party and pay excessive bonuses for making a mockery of the banking system. I think its time for all of us to hold hands and eat apples. Have a nice day!
- 8-6 Five Days A Week-Field Solutions, Enfield, North London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Just what does an MP/Lord have to do to be thrown out??? We have had beach huts, houses shared with siblings as main homes, Offers from Lords to infulence legislation in return for money. This is no longer funny, it is fraud, abuse of office and worse and the police should treat it as such.
- Jeremy E, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Trevn, Abu Dhabi
You took the words right out of my mouth.
Well said.
- Malc, London,England, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
I never thought I would see the day when our government could be accurately described as thoroughly and utterly corrupt.
- Wen, Oxfordshire, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
As a housing association tenant; I hope the baroness is claiming a rent and council tax rebate, and signing on unemployed when she is not attending the House of Lords.
This is her right; and not illegal.
I hope when she retires; she doesn’t have to rely on a New Labour State Pension; the poor cow will starve to death.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
How is it possible that she is living in council association housing with her earnings? surely someone has an answer to this? This woman is STEALING from the tax payer, the council tax payers are subsidising herand her family whilst other more needy people are left rotting on housing lists. It's disgusting and so typical of the rotten Labour party that she hasn't even been rebuked by Brown or his housing minister.
- Ed, Hants, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
'Social housing' was meant to be a safety net, not a God given right (to pass on from generation to generation). It is a the centre of many of today's problems. Not only because there is abuse of the system by people like this 'peer', but mainly because once people are in social housing (housing subsidised by the taxpayer) they don't have to even try to find work. If they have no income, their rent is paid anyway. So, no incentive to work. Contracts should be reviewed every 3- 5 years. People who do not look after the properties should be moved out. People who do not appreciate gardens should be moved and the properties allocated to those who do.
As for his 'baroness'... who can take her seriously. She is no better than a benefit cheat.
- Beatriz, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
why not send a copy of this report to the local police and your local MP and see what they will make of it
- Les, girona spain, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Hopefully a House of Lords investigation will determine whether or not Lady Uddin has broken the law, but she is guilty of a breach of trust. Here is another example of a politician abusing the system. She should think long and hard about her conduct. Is this the way she would expect British politicians to behave? Because it is certainly not the way the British public expects its politicians to behave.
- Ethan Keates, Weybridge, England, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
the evidence is overwhelming. Can this government not do anything decisive? Why not get rid of her today, or must we wait for a 6 month inquiry conducted by her own friends (i mean colleagues) that will then pronounce her innocent?
- Ag, London Village, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Unbelievable. She knew exactly what she was doing, which is why her and her family turned up on the sunday night to put curtains up to make out they'd been living there all this time. She should be forced to pay every penny back. Thieving scumbag
- Lorraine, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
"I do not believe that I have done anything wrong or breached any House of Lords rules. Should the relevant House of Lords authorities wish to investigate the matter I will, of course, co-operate fully." These scrounging MP fraudsters are beginning to sound like stuck record. The sooner these rules are changed, the better!
- Goggs, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
What London councils and Housing Associations are forgetting to say is that they actually sell properties at AUCTIONS, to unscrupulous speculators, on a regular basis. Check the London Auction houses' catologues for yourself...
- Rastina, london, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Please remember that when one talks about the House of Lords rules,as applied to the Great and the Good,this is a grey area ,which means they can do no wrong.There are no legal ramifications to even bending the rules.The law only applies to 'Joe Public',not these people.
- Frank, manchester, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Many bloggers suggest referring this matter to the police without realising that the conduct of our police is no better than has been perpertrated by this immigrant
Dave. Baildon
- Dave, Baildon, Baildon, England, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
A social housing tenancy agreement states that you must live in the property as your 'main and only home'. So if Kent is her main home as she claims, Spitalfields Housing Association should be evicting her.
- Maria, Southwark, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
This female sums up New Labour - Staggering corruption on a monumental scale against the taxpayer who is seen by Gordon Brown as a cash cow for all seasons.
- Natural Justice, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Good god it get's worse, how dare she deprive some hard up family of a low income home, she must be stripped of her Peerage and also pay back the money to the tax-payer, to say i'm disgusted is an understatement.
- Annie, Devon, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
she's not the only one, that bearded old labour mp who was up for london mayor also lived in a council house.
- Satnam Singh, kettering, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Left Wing scum bag!!!
- Mark A, Warrington England, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
are you really suprised by this?????/
not really, well done the standard
- Dan Lyons, london, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
I guess I'd better make one last trip to good old England before its gone for good. Ooops, I think its too late...
- Trunk, US, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
and they just keep on coming. Is sthere anyone at Westminster not at the trough?
- Tim, Exmouth Devon, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
The extended Uddin family run this housing association:
http://www.spitalfieldsha.co.uk/staff_structure.html
She'll get a slap on the wrist and her critics will be branded 'racist'.
- Stuart Mercer, maidstone, kent, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Isn't it amazing that London's ignorant have come out in force to abuse an ASIAN, MUSLIM WOMAN?! i think quite frankly this is scapegoating and deliberate targetting when you know your own prime minister is splitting his cleaning bill with his brother. Mr Brown is the real crook and a sorry excuse for a leader. He doesn't even have the balls to come out and support someone who has benn loyal to the Labour Party for over 30 years! and if he can't stand up for his party then how will he stand up for the people of this country?
- John Smith, London, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
Typical; millions of us commute in to London from much further out that Maidstone to do our jobs yet this unelected claims a housing allowance for maidstone and rents a property that should be reserved for the poor and needy.
We can't even vote her out as we weren't even able to vote her in.
- Woody, Canterbury, Kent, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
I suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg of British government and its equally corrupt agencies.
- Nora, London, Uk, 28/05/2009 01:41
Report abuse
