East Lothian MP defends her expenses
East Lothian MP Anne Moffat has topped a list of MPs who claimed expenses for "necessary costs incurred when staying overnight away from their main home" during the 2007/08 financial year.
Submitting an 'Additional Costs Allowance' of 23,083, Ms Moffat — who in 2003/04 claimed travel costs of 29,744, more than any other MP — came joint first in a recently published list of MPs expenses after submitting receipts for items including a boiler (1,700), shower tray (300), leather sofa (549.99), wardrobe (620.13), fridge (190) and crockery set (160).
The "additional costs allowance," worth up to 24,006 in 2008/9 for MPs representing seats outside central London, is supposed to cover additional costs incurred by MPs who attend Parliament but also look after people in their constituency.
It covers expenditure such as mortgage interest payments on second homes and utility bills.
Postcards
Ms Moffat also claimed 20 for a poppy wreath purchased in 2007. That particular submission formed part of a larger 1608 claim which included 128 for an office table and 240 for paint.
She claimed a 'Communications Allowance' of 9,942 for 2007/08, with cash being largely spent on campaign postcards, parliamentary newsletters, reply cards and advertising.
Introduced in 2007 the allowance allows claims of up to 10,400 a year "to assist in the work of communicating with the public on parliamentary business."
Also in 2007/08, the MP claimed 'Travel' expenses of 18,670, requested 242 towards 'Spouse Travel,' spent 74 on stationery and 1,194 on computer equipment.
Goodwill
Describing the world of UK politics at a national level as "a hostile and nasty environment," Ms Moffat told the News that she lived "modestly" both at home and in London.
She explained: "The ongoing expenses row completely clouds what MPs are here to do — which is look after the interests of the people we are here to represent.
"Some people have clearly abused the system but we are all getting tarred with the same brush.
"I carry out my job with the best of integrity and goodwill — I could be earning a lot of money doing other things but that was not the reason I came into the job.
"Politicians are beginning to wonder why they became MPs."
She continued: "If there is anything in my submitted expense claim forms that is not right it is because a mistake has been made.
"I am not aware of anything inadvertent having taken place — I have not done anything that the fees office has not declared."
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