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MPs' expenses claims are revealed | MPs' expenses claims are revealed |
(10 minutes later) | |
Several MPs' expenses claims have been revealed, showing that John Prescott received £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. |
All six MPs whose details were given received mortgage interest payments. | All six MPs whose details were given received mortgage interest payments. |
The revelations follow a three-year battle by the BBC to have the expenses details published. | The revelations follow a three-year battle by the BBC to have the expenses details published. |
Cleaning costs | Cleaning costs |
Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed were the other two MPs covered. | Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed were the other two MPs covered. |
There is no suggestion that any of the claims were in breach of rules but the figures shed further light on their political life. | |
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. | 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. |
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 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. |
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. |
Arguments | Arguments |
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 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. | 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. |
Under the rules, MPs can spend up to £400 a month on groceries. | Under the rules, MPs can spend up to £400 a month on groceries. |
Mr Blair, prime minister from 1997 until last year, had a £116 for TV licence paid. | Mr Blair, prime minister from 1997 until last year, had a £116 for TV licence paid. |
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 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. |
Second request | Second request |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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' | 'Witch hunt' |
The Commons authorities claim releasing details of travel routes and addresses could compromise MPs' security. | 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." | 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". | 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." |