Whips facing expenses revelations

12 April 2012

A Government whip claimed thousands of pounds on renovating her second home in north London even though her main home is just 15 miles away in east London, it has been reported.

In its latest disclosures about MPs' expenses, The Daily Telegraph said that Dawn Butler's claims included the fitting of a whirlpool bath. Ms Butler denied that particular claim and said she was taking legal advice.

It also reported that Ms Butler, the MP for Brent South, claimed £2,600 too much in rent, but was allowed by staff in the Fees Office to "dig out" other receipts to cover the over-claim.

The newspaper also reported £18,800 in unreceipted claims for food submitted over a period of four years by Government Chief Whip Nick Brown.

Patrick McLoughlin, the Conservative Chief Whip, was said to have claimed £3,000 for the fitting of new windows at his second home.

Among other Labour whips, the paper said that Stephen McCabe over-claimed on his mortgage by £4,059; Diana Johnson spent £1,000 of taxpayers' money on hiring an architect for a decorating project at her second home; and Helen Goodman claimed for a week's stay in a holiday cottage in her constituency.

Mr Brown, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, told his local newspaper, The Journal, that his claims were "not unreasonable" and reflected real costs which he had incurred.

Mr Brown - who last week suspended two Labour MPs for reportedly claiming thousands of pounds for mortgages that had been paid off, acknowledged he had claimed the full amount allowable in subsistence costs, but insisted that it was justified in the context of his working life.

Ms Butler denied she had claimed for a whirlpool bath. She said all the claims she had made were for "legitimate expenditure" and that she would be issuing a full statement later today.

Mr McLoughlin said his claim covered the cost of replacing old windows that required replacement due to "excessive wear and tear. He added that like all other Conservative MPs, he would be submitting his claims to the party's new scrutiny panel which would consider them in his absence.

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