The BBC has usefully, and without fanfare, published the list of expenses claimed by MPs during the 2007/8 Parliamentary year. While the Additional Cost Allowance, which captures expenses relating to second homes, has dominated the headlines, it is by no means the largest cost to the taxpayer when supporting our elected representatives in their Parliamentary duties. In fact, the largest single expense claimed by MPs is the cost of their offices.
During this 12 month period, the 645 MPs listed in this analysis claimed a total of £92,933,748 or an average of £144,176 per MP. Of this, the second home allowance cost the taxpayer £11,584,454 or an average of £17,960. The total second home expenses accounted for just 13% of the total. The cost of supporting MPs’ offices was £66,877,327 or £103,686 per MP. This is equivalent to 73% of the total expenses claimed by MPs in the last reported year.
Without wishing to pre-empt the Telegraph newspapers’ next analysis, I am concerned that some MPs will be unable to justify staffing expenses of over £100,000 in one year. For the record, there were 17 MPs in this bracket with a further 212 MPs claiming between £90,000 and £100,000 for staff in their offices.
Clearly this is all above board but the suggestion that MPs are employing family and friends, thereby further boosting their income, is likely to follow any such examination.
The problem remains the defence offered by MPs when questioned about the issue of expenses. This appears to be nothing more than the system is to blame and everything was done with the approval of the Fees Office. This is insufficient. Particularly, if the largest cost to the taxpayer is the expenses claimed for the running of offices with, as far as I am able to discern, little or no official over-sight.
The case for total transparency is proven. The defence of “playing within the rules” is redundant. The time to cease these “office politics” long overdue.
Tags: BBC, Daily Telegraph, Parliament
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 at 10:56
One Response to “Office Politics”
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Our care homes are under the spotlight. Now,more than ever, we need to be vigilant over the care of our disabled and elderly people. Don’t complain about the dark when you can light a candle/
06/06/2011 09:36
Alexander Maconie
I couldn’t agree with you more about this troublesome subject, Linda. Please keep updating your blog, I find your posts a very interesting read during my mundane day at work.