MPs record expenses "extortionate", says TaxPayers' Alliance

• TPA says MPs "should be ashamed of themselves"
• Increase per MP calculated by TPA
• TPA calls on Commons authorities to follow Scottish Parliament in revealing itemised expenses

Responding to the publication of MPs’ expense claims for 2006-07 today, the TaxPayers' Alliance described the rises as “extortionate”. TPA Chief Executive Matthew Elliott said:

“MPs should be ashamed of themselves. Families are struggling to pay higher tax bills whilst MPs are spending more and more of our money on themselves each year. What’s worse is that they won’t even give us a full itemised breakdown of their expenses as MSPs do in Scotland. No wonder voters have little respect for politicians when they see so many MPs with their snouts in the trough.”

The TPA has compared this year’s expense claims to last year and has produced a ranking of all the MPs by their overall increase.  This analysis reveals that the MPs who increased their claims the most are:

   

NB: Sinn Fein MPs are excluded from this list given the dispute over their expenses that occurred recently, which reduces the 2005-06 figures, thereby inflating the increases.

Contact the TaxPayers' Alliance if you wish to see the full rankings.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance has been campaigning for the House of Commons authorities to publish MPs’ expense claims in full, to include a breakdown of all receipts and invoices, as occurs in the Scottish Parliament.

Heather Brooke, freedom of information campaigner and TPA supporter, said:

"The totals published today are merely the tip of the iceberg. If the Government is serious about open government then it needs to follow the Scottish example and publish a detailed breakdown of all claims. Instead we find the House of Commons spending thousands of pounds on expensive lawyers battling to keep secret the details of how MPs spend the public's money. What have they got to hide?"

Comments

[Acorn]

Let's not forget the nice little earner they have just arranged on Capital Gains Tax. They are receiving large allowances for their so-called "second homes". Naturally, they will arrange for it to become their "primary residence" before they sell it, to avoid CGT. Even if they get it wrong, what would have been 40% CGT - or at least 24% if they did two terms as an MP - will now be 18%. These allowances should be paid back out of the profits when they sell these properties. Perhaps this is the first tax change designed to favour Labour MPs, who are expecting to get the bullet at the next election!

[vaughan]

If you can get the local electorete see what thair labour mp's are pocketing it would loose them support.
Problem is the people who vote for them don't read the press and have no idea the freebies thir on.
If you can get the local news to broadcast it it would be a help

[Philip Sabin]

All efforts must be made to confront MP'S with these disgraceful FACTS (which are exactly what they are). Where they appear: TV. Question Time, Newsnight etc. Radio: 5PM. News at One .... Any opportunity to slide in a question on Expenses and calling for full exposure and a public enquiry must be taken.
It is noted that the Daily Mail had a front page on MP's earnings last week. We must build on this and increase awareness of this fast moving gravy train before it includes so many state employed people with vested financial incentives to keep it going and swell it still further that efforts to deal with it will be in vain.

[michael de ruyter schat]

It should not be beyond the wit of man to arrange the equivalent of "thithe" accommodation for MP's in London at a cost to the tax-payer.

Such accommodation would be leased to the MP by an appropriate letting agency for the term of their parliamentary career and would revert back to the State. The State would gain an appreciating asset.

The MP would then be responsible for their constituency home out of their own pockets.

This would avoid "double dipping" into the
State's coffers.

This would be one of many areas in Parliamentary costs that is in need of regularisation.