Published: Thursday, 14th May, 2009 8:00am

Some MPs let all Parliament down

by Adam Hewitt

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READING"S MPs have accused their expense-pocketing colleagues of letting Parliament down.

The Chronicle reported last month that Reading East MP Rob Wilson, Reading West MP Martin Salter, Newbury MP Richard Benyon and Wokingham MP John Redwood were all in the bottom fifth of the parliamentary ladder for their expenses claims.

Of the four, only Mr Redwood claimed for a second home - the others claimed only for travel expenses, and the cost of running their offices and employing staff.

Mr Salter said: 'I think the last week has been appalling for the standing of Parliament. The actions of a minority of our colleagues in all parties have done untold damage to our democratic institutions which despite the lurid headlines are still some of the best and cleanest in the world.

'I"m pleased that, belatedly, David Cameron is attempting to clean up the Tories" act - but would a Cameron Government, if you get caught shoplifting, say you won"t be prosecuted as long as you gave it back?'

He said he would not criticise MPs with a London home, since he was lucky to be able to catch fast trains from Paddington - in 2007/8 he claimed £6,413 in rail fares, and £1,258 in mileage.

Mr Wilson, who publishes a breakdown of expense claims on his website, claimed £7,195 for rail fares, £1,680 in mileage, and £1,482 in miscellaneous travel.

He praised David Cameron"s decision to force senior Tories to repay improper claims, saying: 'I think he has made the right decision. I don"t claim for a second home and never have so it therefore won"t effect me personally.'

He called the decision 'quite draconian in some respects but definitely the right thing to do'.

He added: 'I wouldn"t want to comment on any particular parties because I think it"s been across the board - all have people in their ranks who have let Parliament down. The question is what we do about it from here.'

Mr Redwood wrote on his blog what he thought the Speaker should say to Parliament, including: 'Immediate measures will be taken to tighten the audit and control over MPs" expenses, to ensure that MPs only claim what is necessarily incurred to carry out their Parliamentary duties. I would ask members to ensure that in their own interests they only claim items which sensible constituents will think reasonable.'

Mr Benyon said in four years he has claimed £6,873.87 out of an available allowance of almost £100,000 over four years on a London flat.

He said: 'Once the receipts have been published in July, if any constituent would like me to explain any individual purchase I am more than willing to do so. I have never claimed any money from any allowance without accompanying paperwork. My view on the current system of MP"s expenses is one of total exasperation.'

Tory MP for Hampshire North East, James Arbuthnot, the chairman of the defence select committee, charged the public purse for the cleaning costs for his swimming pool at his Stratfield Mortimer country estate. In total he claimed just over £108,062 in the past five years, the maximum possible. He has promised to repay the inappropriate claims.

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