MPs defend expenses claims

Apr 1 2009 By Barry Gibson

MPs have defended their expenses claims.

Huddersfield’s Barry Sheerman and Kali Mountford of Colne Valley are among the top 10 spenders in Yorkshire.

Figures released yesterday show Mr Sheerman claimed £160,353 in 2007/08, putting him seventh out of the 56 Yorkshire MPs.

Ms Mountford was just behind in eighth position on £160,015.

Mr Sheerman defended his claim yesterday, saying he had to travel round the country in his role as chairman of the Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families.

The Labour man said: “One of the things that people don’t realise is that expenses partly reflect how active an MP is. I’m an active MP and I visit schools all over England as part of my committee work. Being chairman of a major select committee involves a lot of travel.

“I spend the resources which Parliament allows me in order to be a very active MP.”

Ms Mountford, who will step down at the next election for health reasons, took on a fourth part-time staff member to help with her workload. The Labour MP said: “I get an extra staff allowance now because of my disability.”

Ms Mountford warned that the current controversy about pay and expenses could prevent working-class people from becoming MPs.