MPs’ late payment claims rejected

MPs who paid their phone bills late and tried to claim back penalty charges from the taxpayer are among those identified in the latest release of expenses data.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Nov 2011, 09:33 BST

Former Labour Minister Jack Straw and ex-Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy were among those who fell foul of the stricter new rules.

Altogether 13 MPs were refused such payments by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority of the £13.50 late charges levied by their telephone companies.

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The regulator’s latest figures showed 34,000 claims were processed in June and July this year – worth a total of £5.2m.

IPSA also gave details of 53 claims by 34 MPs which were either refused or, as with the phone bills, only reimbursed in part.

Most regularly refused payment was Tewkesbury Conservative MP Laurence Robertson who submitted receipts for daytime taxi journeys in and around Westminster.

However, his excuse for not using public transport was dismissed by the IPSA as there were “other viable options” than taxis for the journeys.

Related topics:MPs