BARRY Sheerman has defended MPs spending taxpayers’ money on second homes.
The Huddersfield Labour MP said yesterday the vast majority of his colleagues were honest.
Mr Sheerman’s comments came after it emerged employment minister Tony McNulty has claimed thousands of pounds for his constituency home – which is just 11 miles from Westminster.
Mr Sheerman declined to comment directly on Mr McNulty’s expenses. But the Huddersfield MP defended the principle of housing allowances for members of Parliament.
He said: “Those of us who live 200 miles from Westminster have to have two homes. The vast majority of MPs abide by the rules but there’s a small minority who don’t work as close to the rules as I would like.
“I find colleagues to be pretty honest. Yes, people have made mistakes but there are 649 MPs so you’re going to get cases that hit the headlines.”
Members of Parliament are paid more than £60,000 a year. MPs outside central London can also claim up to £24,000 a year in Additional Costs Allowance to cover the cost of staying away from their main home.
Mr Sheerman believes the system of pay and expenses should be taken out of MPs’ hands. He said: “The whole thing should be decided by an independent commission. It irritates me that this hasn’t happened because most MPs I know would like that.”
Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik also called for reform of pay and expenses yesterday.
He said: “The current system is unsustainable. It’s a strange method of remuneration and I believe it would be much better to have something simpler in place which the public understand and which MPs don’t need to justify.”
MP's expenses 2006/7
Barry Sheerman, Huddersfield
Additional Costs Allowance: £22,110
Incidental Expenses: £20,409
Staff: £87,306
Travel £10,560
Kali Mountford, Colne Valley
Additional Costs Allowance: £22,110
Incidental Expenses: £21,806
Staff: £86,409
Travel: £16,152
Shahid Malik, Dewsbury
Additional Costs Allowance: £22,110
Incidental Expenses: £25,856
Staff: £95,230
Travel: £8,256
Mary Creagh, Wakefield
Additional Costs Allowance: £22,110
Incidental Expenses: £23,416
Staff: £80,028
Travel: £8,973
Chris McCafferty, Calder Valley
Additional Costs Allowance: £22,077
Incidental Expenses: £22,123
Staff: £85,533
Travel: £8,447
Mike Wood, Batley and Spen
Additional Costs Allowance: £18,038
Incidental Expenses: £12,888
Staff: £100,543
Travel: £5,830