NORTH East MPs claimed more than £55,000 in expenses in a two-month period, new figures reveal.
Data released yesterday by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) yesterday covers claims made in September and October last year.
Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell claimed the most of the region’s MPs, with his receipts including an annual bill of £1,700 for the lease of a photocopier.
Speaking to The Journal last night, Mr Campbell said he signed the contract for the machine two or three years ago but admitted that was expensive.
He said: “I think it was a little bit expensive. I just claim what I’m entitled to claim, that includes the cost of running two offices, one in the constituency and one in London.”
Mr Campbell’s £6,299.90 claim for the period also included payments for buildings insurance, which other MPs are likely to submit in other months.
Claims from other North East MPs include £5,865 by Kevan Jones (North Durham), £5,598 by Pat Glass (North West Durham) and £4,452 by Ian Mearns (Gateshead).
Ipsa’s website indicated that City of Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods and Hexham MP Guy Opperman made no claims for the period. But a spokesman for Ms Blackman-Woods said the website was inaccurate and that standard claims for office stationary and costs had been submitted. The Journal could not contact Mr Opperman last night.
The figures released yesterday provided the first detailed breakdown of claims after MPs were allowed a grace period following the General Election so they could get used to the changes.
The Leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young criticised the system and said it was “impeding MPs from doing their jobs”. He demanded further reform within the next two months.
“MPs must not be deterred from applying for expenses because they fear reputational damage as a result of failed claims made in good faith, nor from seeking advice for fear that the fact that they have done so may be disclosed and used against them,” he said in a submission to the annual review of the system.
“Some aspects of the new regime are in danger of deterring people from less affluent backgrounds from becoming, and in some cases remaining, Members of Parliament and are also placing undue pressure on some MPs’ family lives.”
Some claims for utility bills were partly rejected and claims for office stationary were also knocked back because of a lack of proof.
Ipsa chairman Sir Ian Kennedy insisted that reform of the expenses system was in the interests of MPs.
