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thomas davison · Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 3:05 pm Post subject: MP EXPENSES RISE TO RECORD HIGH,

MPs' expenses rise to record high

Costs rise to nearly �100m for 2012-13, higher than before the 2009 scandal, due to bigger staff budgets, says watchdog

Rowena Mason, political correspondent
theguardian.com, Thursday 12 September 2013 13.46 BST

The bill for politicians is higher than it was before the 2009 MPs' expenses scandal, with claims of almost �100m last year, official figures show.

The total cost of travel, accommodation and running the offices of MPs rose by 10%, which is thought to be a record for claims by politicians in a single year.

Figures from the expenses watchdog show the overall bill for 2012-13 was �98.1m, taking it above the previous high of �95.6m claimed in 2008-09. The expenses scandal of that year sparked outrage as some politicians claimed for trivial items and played the system to get taxpayer cash for furnishing two homes.

After the scandal broke, MP's claims fell to �90.7m as parliament brought in an independent watchdog to keep down the bill.

The independent parliamentary standards authority said the cost to taxpayers was higher this year because MPs were allowed higher staffing budgets. The watchdog said it had helped save a total of more than �35m over the last four years by keeping tighter control of parliamentary expenses.

Over the last year, David Cameron got �121,872.97, which was mostly spent on running his office. In parliamentary expenses he claimed just �282.55, including 10 claims for train travel, one for a taxi journey, and one mileage claim on behalf of a secretary.

Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, claimed slightly more at �136,115.71, with the vast majority on staffing and office costs. He also claimed �10,508.08 in parliamentary expenses, including �9,340.18 on accommodation and bills, plus �1,167.90 on travel.

Claims made by Nick Clegg were even higher at �152,553.82, again with most going towards the running of the deputy prime minister's office. The Liberal Democrat leader received �12,688.01 in expenses, including �9,767.41 for accommodation and bills, and �2,920.60 for travel and subsistence. Within that, he claimed for a �145.50 television licence and five first-class train journeys.

The largest claims excluding payroll costs were from Ian Paisley, the Democratic Unionist MP for North Antrim, at �100,204; and Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, at �82,878 � reflecting high travel costs from their constituencies. The next highest were those of David Morris, Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, who claimed �75,902; and Debbie Abrahams, Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, who claimed �74,615.

Zac Goldsmith, the multi-millionaire Tory MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, made no claims at all, while the business minister and Conservative MP for Sevenoaks, Michael Fallon, claimed just �38.74. Adam Afriyie, another wealthy businessman and Conservative MP for Windsor, claimed �604.20.

thomas davison · Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 7:44 am Post subject:

Quarter of MPs give jobs to family: Taxpayers' bill for politicians who employ wives and children soars to �4m a year

Even though MP expenses are under scrutiny, family fill even more roles
Many MPs use their wife as an assistant, secretary or office manager
They are paid up to �45,000 a year

By Daniel Martin

PUBLISHED: 23:27, 12 September 2013 | UPDATED: 07:53, 13 September 2013

The number of MPs employing family members has soared by nearly a fifth in a year.

Despite fury over parliamentary expenses, 155 MPs � nearly one in four � now have wives, children and even parents on the public payroll. The relatives enjoy salaries as high as �50,000 for office duties � costing taxpayers �4million last year.

Among senior Tories enjoying the perk are Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, Chief Whip Sir George Young and Environment Secretary Owen Paterson. The latter two are millionaires and earn more than �130,000 a year.

Michael Moore, the Liberal Democrat Scottish Secretary, employs his wife as a case worker.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling employs his wife as a senior secretary on �39,999
Sir George Young, the Chief Whip, employs his daughter Camilla as a senior parliamentary assistant on �34,999

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling (left) employs his wife as a senior secretary on �39,999, while Sir George Young, the Chief Whip, employs his daughter Camilla as a senior parliamentary assistant on �34,999

Ministers with family on the public payroll

The bill for MPs� expenses rose by an inflation-busting 7 per cent despite David Cameron�s pledge to bring down the cost of politics.

The 17 per cent rise in family employment reflects a rule change that allows MPs to spend more on staff and, by using relatives, top up their household income.

More...

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Has Mary Portas reached her sell-by date? MPs say she misled them about a �500,000 TV fee, but they're not the only ones feeling let down by the woman who vowed to save Britain's High Streets

In 2011/12 they were allowed to claim only �115,000 a year for staff. But that was increased in 2012/13 to �144,000 for London MPs to reflect higher costs in the capital. Other MPs claim up to �137,000.

Expenses � office outlays and personal costs such as travel and accommodation � were up from �91.5million in 2011/12 to �98million, according to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin gave his wife Lynn as �39,999 role as his senior parliamentary assistant
Owen Paterson, Environment secretary, employs wife Rose for �39,999

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin (left) gave his wife Lynn as �39,999 role as his senior parliamentary assistant. Owen Paterson (right), Environment secretary, employs wife Rose in the same role

Spending is now higher than in the run-up to the expenses scandal of 2009.

Matthew Sinclair of the TaxPayers� Alliance said: �Any politician using taxpayers� money to employ a relative must be completely open about who is being paid, how much and for what.

�And in the light of past abuses, they shouldn�t be surprised when their constituents demand more openness if they fail to give a detailed explanation as to how they are spending that cash.�
Nadine Dorries, the maverick Conservative MP, paid her daughters: Philippa up to �44,999 as an office manager and Jennifer up to �34,999 as senior secretary

Nadine Dorries, the maverick Conservative MP, paid her daughters: Philippa up to �44,999 as an office manager and Jennifer up to �34,999 as senior secretary

The public outcry over MPs employing family members began in 2008, when Tory MP Derek Conway was accused of paying his two sons for non-existent jobs.

Calls for the rules to be changed intensified after the expenses scandal broke a year later.

Other ministers who employ relatives include Alistair Burt and Hugo Swire from the Foreign Office, business minister Michael Fallon, Stephen Hammond at the Department for Transport, and Northern Ireland minister Mike Penning.

Analysis of the expenses claims made over the year 2012/13 show the largest was from Ian Paisley, DUP member for North Antrim. His claim was for �100,204 � largely due to travel costs.

One MP � Tory Zac Goldsmith of Richmond Park � made no claim, while business minister Michael Fallon received just �38.74.

Self-styled Tory leadership contender Adam Afriyie, Tory MP for Windsor, took home just �604.20.

Nadine Dorries, the maverick Conservative MP, paid her daughters: Philippa up to �44,999 as an office manager and Jennifer up to �34,999 as senior secretary.

Ipsa claimed it had saved the taxpayer �35million since taking over the expenses system in 2010.

However, it used figures from two years before it started work � and before the expenses scandal � as a baseline.

While the total allowances bill was �95.4million in 2008-09, it had already dropped to �90.7million by 2009/10.

The figures come after the watchdog proposed lifting pay from �66,000 now to �74,000 after the 2015 general election.

YOU HAVE TO PULL YOUR BELT IN TO LIVE WHILE THE PIGS HAVE THEIR NOSES IN THE TROUGH AGAIN,

WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW REVOLUTION BECOMES YOUR DUTY