Blyth MP volunteers to repay £6,200 expense claim

May 12 2009 by Will Green, The Journal

A NORTH MP last night dramatically revealed that he will voluntarily repay £6,200 in taxpayer-funded allowances used to buy furniture for his second home after declaring it was "wrong".

Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell apologised to his constituents for using allowances to buy furniture for a second home in London, which he moved into around five years ago.

He declared: “I am very sorry, I shouldn’t have claimed for it.”

And he said MPs shouldn’t even be in a position to make such claims.

Speaking to The Journal, Mr Campbell said: “I am going to pay back all the money that I claimed on furniture.

“I moved into a new house in 2004-05. I was sharing with another MP but decided to get another place. I had to buy all the furniture for my place.

“I didn’t take much with me. I only took the bed.

“But what I am saying is that it was totally wrong and we have now realised that we shouldn’t have been in a position to claim.

“And in future all furniture should be down to the MP not the taxpayer.

“The utility bills, the rent, the interest that is fair enough, that is legit.

“We have to claim that. But furniture, bedding, towels, you name it, that should be down to the MP. That is what I believe.

“Therefore I am going through my expenses going back and come out with a figure of £6,200 over the five years and I am going to pay it all back. I am very sorry, I shouldn’t have claimed for it.” Mr Campbell also said that while he was voluntarily taking the action, it was up to other MPs to decide what they should do.