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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 had his TV licence paid. Several MPs' expenses claims have been revealed, showing that John Prescott received a £4,000 in a year for food and Tony Blair had his TV licence paid.
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 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 mortgage interest. All six MPs whose details were given received mortgage interest payments.
The revelations follow a freedom of information request by the BBC in 2005. The revelations follow a three-year battle by the BBC to have the expenses details published.
Cleaning costsCleaning costs
They also cover former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed. Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed were the other two MPs covered.
Mr Blair, prime minister from 1997 until last year, claimed £116 for his TV licence. There is no suggestion that any of the claims were in breach of rules but the figures shed further light on
Mr Prescott, his deputy during that time, did not claim for any cleaning costs, and neither did Mr Kennedy. In 2003/04, the maximum amount MPs could claim for on Additional Cost Allowance, for running a second home was £20.902. It is currently £23,083.
There is no suggestion that any of the claims were in breach of rules. Of the six MPs covered by the BBC request, 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.
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.Mr Prescott was next on £20,057, followed by Mr Sayeed on £18,618.
ArgumentsArguments
Mr Blair spent £15,490 and Mr Brown £14,304.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.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. Mr Prescott claimed the most on groceries of the six covered by the BBC's request, 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. Under the rules, MPs can spend up to £400 a month on groceries.
We are all assumed to be wrong 'uns Ann Cryer, MP Mr Blair, prime minister from 1997 until last year, had a £116 for TV licence paid.
However, in January this year the information commissioner ruled that the Commons should publish some of the details. The BBC originally made its FOI request in 2005 but the House of Commons Commission argued that, a detailed breakdown of expenses could expose MPs to a security risk. However, in January this year the information commissioner ruled that some of the details should be published.
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. Second request
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. Following a separate FOI request by campaigner Heather Brooke, the House of Commons Commission has also released details of the second home costs of nine senior politicians from 2005/06.
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. Conservative leader David Cameron claimed nearly all of his permitted allowance in mortgage interest/rent payments - £21,293 - and did not claim for other items such as council tax, food, cleaning or repairs, the figures show.
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. Sir Menzies Campbell, then Lib Dem leader, claimed the most for food of the nine MPs that year - £3,700, with John Prescott claiming just over half the amount he did two years earlier - £2,300.
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". Ms Brooke faces a High Court battle to get a more detailed receipt by receipt breakdown of the costs after the Commons rejected a request by the information commissioner to release them.
'Witch hunt'
The Commons authorities claim releasing details of travel routes and addresses could compromise MPs' security.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, which campaigns for lower taxes, said: "This is the first step towards real parliamentary transparency, but there is still a long way to go."
But 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."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."