Ivor Callely may have been nabbed using mobile phone receipts from a company that had ceased trading as part of his fantastical expenses claims, but his dodgy dealings pale in comparison to what’s been going on across the water.
By Robert Carry
UK MPs are paid an annual salary of £63,291, but on average claim over twice that figure in expenses. The sums may be outlandish, but the items UK politicians have seen fit to scribble down on their claim forms are even better.
One of the most ambitious expenses claims belonged to English MP Jacqui Smith. She used her parliamentary expenses budget to claim for two pornographic films her husband downloaded. The former Home Secretary was already in the spotlight for designating her sister’s house in London as her main home so that she could claim £116,000.
Conservative MP Derek Conway showed that nepotism was alive in well when he employed his teenage son Fredrick Conway as his ‘parliamentary assistant’. Young Fredrick earned himself 11,773 a year for his work despite the fact that he was a full-time Geography student at Newcastle University at the time.
And it wasn’t just the English who were at it. In 2008 two Conservative members of the Welsh assembly, Nick Bourne and Alun Cairns, hit the state for £398 combined – for their new iPods. Bourne also claimed for a £120 trouser press.
Labour MP Brian Gibbons showed what a big heart he had when he claimed £16.50 for a Royal British Legion wreath for a remembrance service. MSP David Whitton proved just as mean-spirited – claiming £290 for his Christmas cards.
The award for the stingiest claim in UK politics however, goes to Labour MSP Bill Butler. This skinflint attempted to claim back a £1 charity donation a hotel he had been staying in made on his behalf.
There you have it – we may have some claim-happy politicians, but it could be worse.
