Probe as ‘party coffers swelled’ by MPs’ rent

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has launched a probe after new figures indicated that the taxpayer’s bill has been inflated by around £180,000 since the general election.

The row erupted when the watchdog published details of the landlords supplying politicians’ office space for the first time.

Some 244 leases were made from a political party between May 2010 and March this year, compared with 477 from other bodies or individuals. Cabinet members including Nick Clegg, Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove were among those engaging in the practice.

Although there is no suggestion that rules have been broken, the average cost of renting from parties was higher – £14,886 as opposed to £14,156 from elsewhere.

If the average cost had been the same as for other landlords, the taxpayer would have saved £178,120 over the past three years.

Ipsa chairman Sir Ian Kennedy said: “Our rules allow MPs to rent from a political party – but we require an extra assurance from MPs if they do so: an independent valuation that the lease represents the market rate. We are confident that this measure means taxpayers have received value for money from these leases.

“As part of a broad review of accommodation support, Ipsa will consider whether, even if the individual leases are appropriate, the cumulative effect means we need to reconsider this aspect of the rules.”