Tory MPs defend expenses claims (From The Argus)

Tory MPs defend expenses claims

8:10am Saturday 19th July 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(2)

CONSERVATIVE MPs in Sussex have defended their spending habits after details of thousands of pounds of expense claims were published on the orders of party leader David Cameron.

On Thursday, The Argus reported the county's nine MPs had claimed taxpayers' cash for a range of items over the past three months, including petrol, rail tickets, repayments on mortgages and even hundreds of pounds in advertising.

Greg Barker, MP for Bexhill and Battle, defended claiming more than £3,350 for phone bills and more than £8,000 for rent.

Mr Barker, the party's environment spokesman, said: “We have to look at the pattern of spending over the whole year. Some bills get paid altogether. My rent was paid for six months, through to September.”

Backing his party's decision to release the information, Mr Barker said: “It is good that people have a right to know. At the end of the year they will be able to take a view about whether it¹s good value for money.

“David Cameron and the Conservatives have gone much further than the rules require and it's good we have that level of openness. It should be something the Labour Party is doing as well.”

Chichester MP Andrew Tyrie refused to comment on any of his expenses, which included a claim of £4,505.59 for management charges.

But he said: “I have said for a long time I favour greater transparency.” Eastbourne's MP, Nigel Waterson, spent £368 on insurance in three months and a similar amount on telephones. He also claimed more than £1,750 for petrol costs ­ more than £10 every day.

Mr Waterson told The Argus: “I am happy to follow David Cameron's lead, which goes beyond normal rules. I agree that we should have greater transparency.”

Commenting on his own expenditure, he said: “This isn”t money in my pocket - it is money spent on carrying out my Parliamentary duties.”

Peter Bottomley, MP for West Worthing, claimed £80.20 for rail tickets, £1,520 for car mileage, £450 for his website and £3,150 for mortgage repayments. Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb claimed £2,403 for car mileage and £5,675 towards an interest-only mortgage.

Nick Herbert, the Arundel and South Downs MP, spent a similar amount on his interest-only mortgage at £5,680.05.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton claimed interest of £3,086 on his mortgage, as well as repairs and utilities totalling £711.

Horsham MP Frances Maude was one of the lowest spending MPs, claiming £1,575 for office rental and £460 for a website. He also claimed almost £5,400 for his interest-free mortgage.

Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames claimed almost £2,000 for office equipment in the three months, with a further £830 on phone bills and £313.77 on adverts for surgeries.

Mr Cameron, who plans to publish the detailed information on a regular basis, said: “Politicians need to do everything they can to regain the trust of the British people, and transparency has a key part to play in that process. We must show that we're spending taxpayers' money sensibly and correctly.”

What do you think of the MPs' spending? Tell us below.