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Speaker 'orders £20,000 refurb' Speaker 'orders £20,000 refurb'
(about 2 hours later)
John Bercow has ordered a £20,000 refurbishment of the Speaker's official grace-and-favour flat in the Palace of Westminster, it has been reported.John Bercow has ordered a £20,000 refurbishment of the Speaker's official grace-and-favour flat in the Palace of Westminster, it has been reported.
Items ordered by the new Speaker, elected after Michael Martin stepped down amid the expenses row, include a £6,764 sofa suite, the Telegraph said.Items ordered by the new Speaker, elected after Michael Martin stepped down amid the expenses row, include a £6,764 sofa suite, the Telegraph said.
Some changes make the flat child-friendly, such as fitting window locks and turning a study into a playroom.Some changes make the flat child-friendly, such as fitting window locks and turning a study into a playroom.
Mr Martin spent £724,600 of public money on the flat from 2000 to 2008.Mr Martin spent £724,600 of public money on the flat from 2000 to 2008.
Mr Bercow, who has three young children and at 46 is the youngest Commons Speaker in modern times, has previously noted that it was a "fantastic apartment but it's not altogether child friendly". Mr Bercow, who has three young children and at 46 is the youngest Commons Speaker in modern times, has previously noted it was a "fantastic apartment but it's not altogether child friendly".
The Telegraph reported it had see the document detailing the changes to be made, including £6,764.30 on a new sofa suite, £760 on a window seat cushions, £3,600 on window locks, £90.95 on mattresses and sheets and £275 on eight lampshades.The Telegraph reported it had see the document detailing the changes to be made, including £6,764.30 on a new sofa suite, £760 on a window seat cushions, £3,600 on window locks, £90.95 on mattresses and sheets and £275 on eight lampshades.
Other costs include £3,880 on planters to make the terrace more child friendly and £1,087 on decorating a study to turn it into a playroom.Other costs include £3,880 on planters to make the terrace more child friendly and £1,087 on decorating a study to turn it into a playroom.
The House of Commons in house maintenance was also asked to check that the access to wall ducts was child proof.The House of Commons in house maintenance was also asked to check that the access to wall ducts was child proof.
A spokeswoman for the House of Commons said Mr Bercow was "happy that this information is in the public domain, that the public know how this money has been spent".