National News
Keep the spotlight on expenses claims
Wednesday 3 June 2009
The spotlight that shone on the many David Willetts light bulb jokes and his repayment of £135 rather deflected attention away from other items the MP claimed and cast them into the shadow.
MPs are not allowed to claim for improvements or things that enhance their 'second homes': only maintenance and repair is allowed. However, The News reported that he claimed £8,219 for 'necessary' repairs to his bathroom.
Local plumbers tell me that a bathroom can be refitted for less than £2000. How then can repairs to a bathroom cost over £8000?
At a time when unemployment is not far off ten percent in the area where I live it is shocking that £8,000 is claimed for repairs to a bathroom. This is more than many local people's yearly income. Is this not a case of tax payers money being flushed down the toilet?