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MPs' expenses claims are revealed MPs' expenses claims are revealed
(30 minutes later)
Several MPs' expenses claims have been revealed, showing that John Prescott spent £4,000 in a year on food and that Tony Blair claimed for a TV licence. Several MPs' expenses claims have been revealed, showing that John Prescott spent £4,000 in a year on food and that Tony Blair had his TV licence paid.
Gordon Brown and ex-Tory leader Michael Howard had council tax bills for their second home paid for in 2003-04, the figures also show. Mr Prescott, Mr Blair, Gordon Brown and ex-Tory leader Michael Howard also had council tax bills for their second home paid for in 2003-04, the figures show.
Mr Brown claimed £11,826.81 for flights during the period. All six MPs received money to pay mortgages. Mr Brown claimed £11,826.81 for flights during the period. All six MPs received money to pay mortgage interest.
The revelations follow a freedom of information request by the BBC in 2005.The revelations follow a freedom of information request by the BBC in 2005.
Cleaning costsCleaning costs
They also cover former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed.They also cover former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed.
Mr Blair, prime minister from 1997 until last year, claimed £116 for his TV licence.Mr Blair, prime minister from 1997 until last year, claimed £116 for his TV licence.
Mr Prescott, his deputy during that time, did not claim for any cleaning costs, and neither did Mr Kennedy.Mr Prescott, his deputy during that time, did not claim for any cleaning costs, and neither did Mr Kennedy.
There is no suggestion that any of the claims were in breach of rules.There is no suggestion that any of the claims were in breach of rules.
Of the six MPs, Mr Howard spent the most on "additional costs" - including mortgages, utility bills, council tax, phone bills, cleaning, food and provisions and household repairs, claiming £20,347.
Mr Prescott was next on £20,057, followed by Mr Sayeed on £18,618.
Arguments
Mr Blair spent £15,490 and Mr Brown £14,304.
Meanwhile, Mr Kennedy's £12,869 additional costs claim all went on mortgage interest payments.
Mr Prescott claimed the most on groceries, with Mr Blair the only other MP of the six to claim under this category, for £174.41.
Following the BBC's FOI request, the House of Commons Commission argued that a detailed breakdown of travel expenses could identify regular routes travelled by MPs, exposing them to a security risk.Following the BBC's FOI request, the House of Commons Commission argued that a detailed breakdown of travel expenses could identify regular routes travelled by MPs, exposing them to a security risk.
We are all assumed to be wrong 'uns Ann Cryer, MPWe are all assumed to be wrong 'uns Ann Cryer, MP
However, in January this year the information commissioner ruled that the Commons should publish some of the details, such as individual amounts claimed for travel under three headings: MPs' travel, family travel and staff travel. However, in January this year the information commissioner ruled that the Commons should publish some of the details.
On Thursday, the Commons Commission said it would not appeal against the ruling. The House of Commons Commission has also released details of the second home costs of nine senior politicians from 2005/06, in response to a FOI request from campaigner Heather Brooke.
Conservative leader David Cameron claimed the most in mortgage interest payments - £21,293 - but he did not claim for other items such as council tax, food, cleaning or repairs, the figures show.
Sir Menzies Campbell, then Lib Dem leader, claimed the most for food - £3,700, with John Prescott claiming almost half the amount he did did two years earlier - £2,300.
But Ms Brooke faces a High Court battle to get a more detailed breakdown of the costs after the Commons rejected a request by the information commissioner to release them.
Labour MP Ann Cryer said the pursuit of expenses details by journalists was "becoming a witch hunt" and politicians were "all being tarred with the same brush".Labour MP Ann Cryer said the pursuit of expenses details by journalists was "becoming a witch hunt" and politicians were "all being tarred with the same brush".
She told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "We are all assumed to be wrong 'uns. We are all assumed to be getting more money than we should be getting when, in fact, most Members of Parliament are honourable members and we aren't on the fiddle." She told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "We are all assumed to be wrong 'uns."
But Liberal Democrat transport spokesman and anti-sleaze campaigner Norman Baker said: "This is public money we are talking about and we have to be accountable for it. But Liberal Democrat transport spokesman and anti-sleaze campaigner Norman Baker said: "This is public money we are talking about and we have to be accountable for it."
"The reality is a lot of this has been brought upon ourselves. The House of Commons authority have been too secretive.
"There has been inappropriate expenditure which the public would not support and on odd occasions - and I agree with Ann that most MPs are honest - there has been corruption."