North MPs promise to repay £10,000 expenses
Jun 20 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
South Shields MP David Miliband has handed back £434.24 from his second home allowance despite previously insisting that all his claims were “right”.
Newcastle Central MP Jim Cousins repaid £200 in travel claims and another £1,227.40 relating to his second home in 2008-9 – which are yet to be published.
Gateshead MP Sharon Hodgson handed back £1,516.66 for claims made under the additional cost allowance.
Former Cabinet Minister Hilary Armstrong, MP for Durham North West, has handed back £5,500 after previously admitting claiming for “tacky” food bills.
Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell, a Home Office Minister, has handed back £131.50 from his second home allowance.
Junior Defence Minister and Durham North MP Kevan Jones has returned £172 from the same “additional cost allowance” (ACA) pot.
Wearside’s Fraser Kemp repaid £432.35 in ACA claims, while Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith returned £135.50 after claiming for his TV licence twice in a year.
Easington’s John Cummings has also repaid £277.06 for his 2008-09 claims. The MP, who is due to step down at the next election, said: “Now the claims are readily available for inspection it is for others to judge me, but in my view my claims are reasonable given that I provide a good service to my constituents through a fully-staffed office.”
Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods has corrected a Commons error which saw her listed as repaying £240. She said she has not made any claims which needed repaying.
:: In yesterday's edition of The Journal, in referring to Sir Alan Beith's expenses, we said that he had claimed for mortgage payments. We accept that Sir Alan does not have and never has had a mortgage on his London accommodation, which he has always rented, and that the claims were for rent. We apologise for the error.
