BECKENHAM: MP votes against second homes allowance reform
7:20am Wednesday 6th May 2009 in
AN MP has voted against reforming second home allowances despite representing a constituency only 10 miles from Westminster.
Beckenham MP Jacqui Lait voted against a motion in Parliament to cut the amount MPs whose constituencies are within 20 miles could claim for second homes.
The motion, which was passed with 355 votes for and 39 votes against, called on MPs within 20 miles of Westminster to be brought into line with inner London MPs from April next year.
Ms Lait joined just two other London MPs in voting against it after a debate in the House of Commons last Thursday.
In 2007/8, Ms Lait claimed £15,478 for “staying away from home”.
The maximum she could have claimed was £23,083.
Ms Lait also claimed £7,000 on travel, bringing the total amount she claimed in expenses to £128,892.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive at campaign group the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Plenty of London MPs have realised their second homes allowance is absurd and must be abolished.
“The fact Jacqui Lait has voted to keep it just shows how out of touch she is, and suggests she is more focused on feathering her own nest than in delivering savings to her constituents.
“The majority of people in Beckenham commute into London.
“There is no reason why she could not do the same.”
However, the Beckenham MP did support another reform passed in a motion the same evening which would mean people who work in MPs’ offices would from now on be employed directly by Parliament.
Speaking about the row over MPs’ expenses, Bromley Council leader Councillor Stephen Carr said: “No-one recognises this present system is right and it needs reform.
“Clearly this is an issue which has undermined confidence.”
Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill and Orpington MP John Horam did not take part in either vote.
To find out more about your MP, visit theyworkforyou.com/mp/
Comments(14)
rrwfatr
says...
9:15am Wed 6 May 09
hmm I wonder why all are tax's are so high, yep that's it. it's beacause of all the MP's and their banking mates! Pings in a .... springs to mind!!
Sweepster
says...
10:29am Wed 6 May 09
Why do they need additional homes? Stick in a b&b like the rest have to stay when travelling for work.
I know, convert a couple of rooms in the houses of parliament into hostel types rooms, with bunkbeds. How many of them would be 'staying' in London then!!!
Moi
says...
11:30am Wed 6 May 09
If Ms Lait doesn't like getting the train to work maybe she could do a bit more to improve the public transport infrastructure, by increasing their funding by say £15,478 a year...
Independents to Save Queen Mary's Hospital
says...
11:39am Wed 6 May 09
mr2wheels100
says...
5:12pm Wed 6 May 09
Even with the property slump it is still worth far more then the average persons house in Beckenham who voted her in to her office.
Why does she need a property in Beckenham(funded by the tax payer), AND a house only 80 miles away from Westminster?
Many people comute from Rye, & Hastings to London every day. The House of Commons no longer sits late, so the old story about needing a london property to go back to no longer applies.
She clearly she gets travel expenses to travel to and from work why can’t she claim them from her house in Rye instead of fleecing the system?
I have voted Conservative all my life, but with MY Member of Parliament voting to continue with this ridiculous/dishonest perk I can not and will not vote for her again.
I know my little rant will not change Ms. Laits views, or even get her voted out of her position, but she really needs to appreciate how the average voter feels in these economic times.
This was her chance to show to us that she was ‘in touch’ with the voters, but sadly in my opinion, she has really shown her true colours, thinking of her greedy perks, before thinking of her constinuency.
Sorry Jacqui you have just lost my vote.
Peony
says...
7:58pm Wed 6 May 09
They are teaching the next generation that it is okay to twist as much money out the public purse as you can as long as you keep to the 'rules'.
Honesty, integrity and a sense of fair play are just words that can be used to inspire the people but does not actually apply to MPs when they are filling out their expenses.
I do not know of anybody who now has any respect left for our current politicians.
I do hope for all our sakes that there are still some 'honest Joes' sitting in Parliament.
Biscuit
says...
2:03pm Thu 7 May 09
The only thing she represents is herself!
doc 1
says...
9:45am Fri 8 May 09
doc 1
says...
10:44am Sat 9 May 09
You a have these MP`s milking the tax`s paying, when our soilders are dying in a far away land and get paid hardly anything and could do with more protection. They should be a shamed of then self as they build up there bank accoutts.
They should give half of what they own to the dead soilders family.
doc 1
says...
10:46am Sat 9 May 09
madras
says...
2:13pm Mon 11 May 09
Amac
says...
11:48am Fri 15 May 09
Wuffo the Wonder Dog
says...
5:31pm Wed 20 May 09
I went to Bob 'Working for You' Neill Saturday week ago. It was locked up tight as a drum. There was a small leaflet in the window that said Bob 'Working for You' Neill held a monthly surgery - but not this month, or any other month, it seems.
Has anyone actually seen Bob 'Working for You' Neill in Bromley since he's been elected? I don't mean carefully arranged sneak visits to the gaga residents of retirement homes but walking about the High Street and talking to the residents.
Perhaps he is allergic to us locals? Perhaps we frighten him? Or he's busy knocking out his expenses claims before he gets the boot in the next election? But we can rest assured that he's looking after number one.
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Ricky ii says...
7:48am Wed 6 May 09