MPs told to pay off their bills as House of Commons rises for General Election

Parliament will dissolved on May 3 before the General Election
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MPs were warned today to pay off their drinks, lunch and dinner bills as the Commons was due to rise for the election.

The House was set to be prorogued today, so MPs will no longer be sitting, and Parliament will be dissolved on May 3.

Dissolution guidance for MPs states: “Please settle all oustanding House of Commons catering accounts... in full before dissolution.”

They were also told that any sum owed to the House’s finance department, such as telephone bills, had to be repaid immediately.

“The finance team will be reviewing all Members’ debts before dissolution,” the guidance adds.

MPs will be chased to pay unpaid bills. They were also warned that once the House is dissolved, they must no longer use the title “MP”.

Twitter, Facebook and other social media that they use must make clear that they are not a Member of Parliament from May 3.

They are also banned from using the House of Commons as an address for correspondence during this period before the election.

MPs were also told not to use resources funded by the House or the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority for political activities.

They were warned that to do so would risk legal action.

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