North East MPs defend their £3.9m expenses bill

Mar 31 2009 by William Green and Adrian Pearson, The Journal

NORTH MPs last year claimed £3.9m in expenses, travel bills and office costs.

The taxpayers’ bill includes travel costs for wives and husbands of various politicians from the region, which came to a total of £32,448 in the financial year up to March, 2008.

And the region’s MPs between them spent more than £534,000 on the cost of providing a second home in London - regarded as essential due to the late finishes and early starts.

When staff costs of £2,263,116 are taken out the final bill is around £1.6m, including travel costs of nearly £500,000.

These expenses claims are on top of MPs’ wages and pensions packages.

The North East’s most expensive MP was regional minister Nick Brown, whose £165,315 bill included staffing costs of £101,153. Mr Brown said most of the cost appeared high because they covered a period when one member of staff was leaving and another starting.

“I had two members of staff working in tandem, the figure here covers their pay, and it should be noted that they get the money, not me,” he said.

He backed an overhaul of allowances as another North minister admitted voters are in a “foul mood” over the issue.

Mr Brown stressed the need to recognise the “true cost” of MPs staying away from home and running an office but said he would prefer a system of overnight allowances.