THE MP expenses scandal is the talk of the nation since a series of revelations began just over two weeks ago.
Today marks the 17th day of the Telegraph's investigation into second home expenses made by MPs over the last year.
Some of the UK’s most senior MPs were accused of over claiming with the most extravagant claims including clearing a moat, maintaining swimming pools and a £1,645 “duck island”.
But MPs have said they were acting within the rules.
Looking closer to home, the Argus reveales how much our AMs claim in second-home allowance.
Torfaen AM Lynn Neagle has come forward along with her husband Merthyr Tydfil and rhymney AM Huw Lewis and they they are to stop claiming two lots of second-home allowances.
Up until now, the pair who share a second home in Penarth, can claim up to £13,000 a year each.
Nick Ramsay AM refused to reveal his claim for the last financial year.
Liberal Democrat AM Mike german claimed £10,200 for his one-bedroom house in Cardiff.
Assembly Members whose first home is not in Newport East, Newport West, Caerphilly, Cardiff South and Penarth, Cardiff Central, Cardiff West, Pontypridd, Cardiff North or the Vale of Glamorgan can claim up to £13,000 for a second home. This covers items such as furniture, mortgage interest and rent. An Independent Review Panel on Assembly Members’ pay and allowances was established by the National Assembly Commission in August 2008. The Panel is in the process of reviewing the system of pay and allowances for Assembly Members and will report its findings and recommendations in July. The Assembly Commission also plans to start a weblog of all AMs’ expenses which will be updated on a monthly basis. MPs can now receive a second home allowance if they live 20 or more miles from Westminster and last year were allowed to claim up to just over £23,000. New restrictions on MPs’ expenses were outlined by the Commons Speaker Michael Martin on Tuesday after they were agreed on by party leaders. Under these new measures, MPs who are married or live together, will only be entitled to one second home allowance between them. These measures include a ban on claiming the second home allowance for furniture, household goods, gardening and cleaning. MPs are also faced with a £1,250-a-month cap on mortgage interest payments. These measures have been made with immediate effect until a report by Sir Christopher Kelly’s Committee on Standards in Public Life is released.
INDEPENDENT AM for Blaenau Gwent Trish Law lives in Nantyglo but does not claim for a second home despite living an hour’s drive away from Cardiff Bay.
She said: “I live only about 35 miles from Cardiff Bay and I don’t feel a second home can be justified.
“Besides, I do have a home life and I like to spend time with my family when I don’t have business in Cardiff or engagements in Blaenau Gwent.”
Obviously Hedley hasn't read this one. Or maybe he has chosen not to comment.
hedleymccarthy
Lots of people travel to Cardiff to work every day. I understand you travel to Bristol Martyn or at least you used to, I take it you still come home each night or do you sometimes stay over perhaps?
AMs only work 3 day week don't they so I think Trish is right not to have a second home, although I understand that Peter did
I think the AMs and MPs that milk the system are a disgrace and we would all be better off without them. I also think that councillors who fiddle their expenses should be ashamed of themselves as should people who condone it.
martyn142
hedleymccarthy wrote:
I think the AMs and MPs that milk the system are a disgrace and we would all be better off without them. I also think that councillors who fiddle their expenses should be ashamed of themselves as should people who condone it.
Amen to that.
Rocke
Well if two people claiming for the same property isn't milking the system what is ?
Taken to its logical, though extraordinary, conclusion, every AM could live in the same second home. How much profit is that ?
Next time the Merthyr AM sticks his nose into our streets I think he should be reminded.
Note one thing about all these people as well - as soon as it's announced they stop doing it. They therefore know it's not moral.
I wonder what the attack sheep will make of this, a real scandal compared to Trish Law's distasteful purchase of a SatNav on us ?
hedleymccarthy
Can't you read?
Rocke
hedleymccarthy wrote:
Can't you read?
No.
And I bet you can't understand the irony of that.
Anyway, what do you think of councillors who make use of chauffeured Civic cars for travel between their homes and Council Offices ?
That's "within the rules" ?
And since it's not one rule for you and one for the rest of us ( despite the attitude you demonstrate with some of your 'lookey downey' offerings ), I'll ask the same question of everyone else.
What do you think of councillors who make use of the chaffeured Civic cars for travel between their homes and Council Offices ?
