7:20am Wednesday 6th May 2009
By Charlotte McDonald
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.
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