Region's MPs claim nearly £1m in lower-key round of expenses

YORKSHIRE MPs claimed nearly £1m of expenses in the final six months of 2009 despite some being caught out by the new stricter regulations, with requests for cleaning, food and broadband rejected by Whitehall officials.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Jun 2010, 22:06 BST
Updated 24th Jun 2010, 22:06 BST

The latest round of claims from Westminster to be published are considerably more low key than before, with requests subject to tighter rules and elected members under close public scrutiny. Nationally MPs claimed more than 10m between July and December, according to the House of Commons database.

The material covers accommodation, office, communications and incidental expenses from the second and third quarters of the 2009-10 financial year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In Yorkshire, Shipley MP Philip Davies had a 300 claim for food knocked back, while Denis MacShane, MP for Rotherham, Halifax MP Linda Riordan and Gerry Sutcliffe, MP for Bradford South all had cleaning bills rejected.

Sheffield Heeley MP Meg Munn was denied a request for 33 to pay her life insurance, Diana Johnson, MP for Hull North was refused a 46 claim for broadband and gas maintenance.

There were, however, some significant claims – Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford claimed 575 for just two nights in a hotel, while Anne McIntosh – who was Vale of York MP and now represents Thirsk and Malton – submitted her cleaning bill before the regulations were changed, as did Wentworth MP John Healey.

Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell claimed 438 for a new shower.

Related topics:MPsYorkshire