MPs expenses: Ten largest repayments
MPs expenses: Ten largest repayments
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Thursday, 04, Feb 2010 11:40
By Matthew Champion.
MPs expenses: Ten most bizarre claims
Video: MPs expenses audit published
Full story: MPs to bay back 1.12 million in expenses
1 Bernard Jenkin
Conservative MP for Stevenage
Total repayment recommended: £63,250.00
Reduced on appeal by: £27,000.00
Total repayments received since April 1st 2009: £36,909.17
Balance recommended to be repaid: £0.00
The former shadow secretary of defence was paid £63,250 over the review period to rent his second home from his sister-in law; a "conflicted transaction" according to Sir Thomas Legg.
2 Barbara Follett
Labour MP for Stevenage
Total repayment recommended: £42,458.21
Total repayments received since April 1st 2009: £32,976.17
Balance recommended to be repaid: £9,482.04
The junior minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) must repay £34,776.30 claimed for security patrols at her second home in Soho, west London. She also must repay back £4,454.18 in telephone bills and £2,812.95 for household insurance premium for fine art, as well as £221 for boiler insurance and £193.78 for pest control at an address other than her second home.
3 Peter Lilley
Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden
Total repayment recommended: £41,057.36
Reduced on appeal by: £41,057.36
Balance recommended to be repaid: £0.00
Shadow chancellor under William Hague, Lilley purchased his second home in 2003 using a loan from his wife. In 2005, he replaced that loan with a mortgage held jointly with his wife, repaying her the original loan. Over the rest of the review period, he was paid a total of £41,057.36 for mortgage interest on this second loan. Sir Paul Kennedy said he found Mr Lilley's appeal "compelling", adding: "I am at a loss to understand why the review should state that what you did was not permitted."
4 Julie Kirkbride
Conservative MP for Bromsgrove
Total repayment recommended: £31,827.26
Reduced on appeal by: £2,584.26
Total repayments received since April 1st 2009: £29,243.00
Balance recommended to be repaid: £0.00
Kirkbride is married to fellow Tory MP Andrew Mackay (number five in this list). They became known as the expenses couple after she designated her constituency home as her second home, while he nominated it as his main home. She designated her husband's second home, a flat in London, as her main home. This meant that, between them, the couple had no main home which was not funded by expenses. Throughout the five years of the review period, they both claimed at or close to the full allowance to support their two homes. Sir Thomas said this appeared contrary to the principles governing the Green Book rules.
5 Andrew Mackay
Conservative MP for Bracknell
Total repayment recommended: £31,193.00
Total repayments received since April 1st 2009: £31,193.00
Balance recommended to be repaid: £0.00
See above. He was also paid £9,950 for cleaning, exceeding the allowable maximum by £1,950.
6 David Heathcoat-Amory
Conservative MP for Wells
Total repayment recommended: £29,691.93
Total repayments received since April 1st 2009: £6,122.24
Balance recommended to be repaid: £23,569.69
Heathcoat-Amory over-claimed for both cleaning and gardening costs, the latter to the tune of £26,696.58.
7 John Lyons
Former Labour MP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (stood down in 2005)
Total repayment recommended: £18,780.80
Total repayments received since April 1st 2009: £0.00
Balance recommended to be repaid: £18,780.80
The former MP claimed for "invalid" mortgage payments, Sir Thomas said.
8 Ann Cryer
Labour MP for Keighley
Total repayment recommended: £18,241.70
Reduced on appeal by: £16,646.45
Total repayments received since April 1st 2009: £1,596.25
Balance recommended to be repaid: £0.00
Cryer was paid £16,646.65 for the rental between April 2004 and July 2005 of a flat from her son. The overpayment was thrown out by Sir Paul. The over repayments relate to furnishings, including a table, carpet and rug.
9 Ivor Caplin
Former Labour MP for Hove (stood down in 2005)
Total repayment recommended: £17,865.33
Total repayments received since April 1st 2009: £0.00
Balance recommended to be repaid: £17,865.33
See entry number seven.
10 Ian Gibson
Former Labour MP for Norwich North (stood down in 2009)
Total repayment recommended: £16,025.00
Total repayments received since April 1st 2009: £0.00
Balance recommended to be repaid: £16,025.00
Gibson became the first and only MP to immediately step down over the expenses furore, his seat being won by the Conservative candidate Chloe Smith. His decision came after he was criticised by the prime minister for claiming £32,051.63 for mortgage interest and utilities for a flat he shared with his adult daughter. He should have shared the cost with her.