Kirklees MP's tight-lipped as sweeping changes to expenses leaked

SWEEPING changes to the system of MPs’ expenses have been leaked.

Details of Sir Christopher Kelly’s recommended new rules emerged yesterday.

But MPs in the Huddersfield area remained tight-lipped about the proposals.

Sir Christopher’s report – due to be published next week – includes a ban on MPs employing family members and an end to the controversial mortgage interest payments.

Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford employs her husband Ian Leedham as office manager.

Yesterday he said: "We’re not going to comment on this because it’s a leak, we won’t comment until we see the final report.

"It’s just speculation at present, we don’t know the timescale."

Calder Valley MP Chris McCafferty employs her husband David Tarlo as her parliamentary assistant.

He said: "We’re waiting for publication before we comment on the record. Let’s get the decision first."

Both MPs are stepping down at the next election.

Meanwhile Shahid Malik’s office made clear yesterday that the Dewsbury MP no longer employs his father Rafique.

From 2005 to 2008 he was paid for two days a week of casework. The MP’s father now works one or two days a week voluntarily.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, Wakefield MP Mary Creagh and Batley and Spen’s Mike Wood do not employ any family members.

Sir Christopher’s recommendations, which are due to be announced on Wednesday, have been widely leaked.

They include an end to MPs employing family members and a restriction on first-class travel.

The controversial second homes allowance of up to £24,000 a year – which some MPs use to pay mortgage interest – would be changed to cover only rental costs.

Currently only London MPs are banned from claiming a second home allowance. But Sir Christopher will propose extending this to any MP whose constituency is within an hour’s train journey of Westminster – bringing in areas like St Albans, Watford and Woking.

The £25-a-day subsistence allowance, which allows MPs to claim for food without providing receipts, would also be abolished.

The resettlement grant of up to £64,766, which is available to retiring MPs, would be reduced.

And the £10,400-a-year communications allowance for sending letters to constituents would be axed.

Some MPs are unhappy with Sir Christopher’s proposals.

Roger Gale, Conservative MP for North Thanet in Kent, said yesterday it was "absolutely ludicrous" for MPs living an hour’s train journey from London not to have a taxpayer-funded second home in the capital.