Huddersfield and Colne Valley MPs including Kali Mountford divided on expenses review

Nov 5 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SWEEPING changes to parliamentary expenses have been condemned by Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford.

Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, yesterday published the findings of a review of the expenses system following widespread criticism of alleged abuses earlier this year.

But Ms Mountford – who is fighting a request to pay back some of the expenses she claimed – says the move will leave MPs worse off.

Among the proposed changes are bans on MPs claiming for mortgages and employing relatives to work for them.

MPs living near London would no longer be allowed to claim for second homes and resettlement grants for MPs voluntarily stepping down would be stopped.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman said he had concerns the proposals might put people off becoming MPs, but said the recommendations should be accepted.

But Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford, who will step down at the next General Election, launched a scathing attack on the review.

If accepted by the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the recommendations would not be enforced until the parliament after next, in five years’ time.

But Ms Mountford said: “There was a time when I was so depressed about leaving Parliament that I would never have thought I would feel glad about it, but there have been moments lately when I have thought there are some positives and today is one of those.

“Although I’m not personally affected, I think it will affect politics as a whole and people choosing it as a career.

“For those MPs who will still be here in five years time this will hang over them like the sword of Damocles.

“There hasn’t been a commensurate review of salaries so people will be on the same salaries but with increased expenses.

“The recommendations will either die a death before they are brought in or, if they are enforced, the next Parliament will see how unenforceable they are.”

Ms Mountford, who employs husband Ian Leedham as her office manager, was especially critical of the recommendation to ban MPs from employing relatives.