LEYTON/WANSTEAD: MP's expenses slammed

3:03pm Wednesday 19th March 2008

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LEYTON and WANSTEAD MP Harry Cohen has been slammed for claiming thousands of pounds in Parliamentary expenses on his constituency home.

Conservative MP Stephen Hammond said that Mr Cohen and other London-based MPs should be barred from receiving the additional cost allowance (ACA) on second properties because they live so close to Westminster.

'Living in the constituency is living on the job'

Harry Cohen

He singled Mr Cohen out for criticism because he continues to claim the maximum £22,110 allowance on his Wanstead house, which is just six miles from Westminster.

The Wimbledon MP launched his attack as a House of Commons inquiry revealed details of expenses MPs can claim back under the ACA, including up to £10,000 for a kitchen and £750 for a new television.

The allowance was originally introduced to refund MPs with constituencies outside inner London on money they spend on second properties closer to Parliament other than their main homes.

Mr Cohen, who counts a property in Colchester as his main home, continues to claim the ACA on his second' home in Woodcote Road despite admitting to spending more than 90 per cent of his time there.

Ilford North MP Lee Scott who has never claimed the allowance, backed Mr Hammond's call for greater transparency in members' finances.

He said: "MPs have to make their own judgements when claiming expenses, but I have chosen not to claim the ACA allowance because I only have one house in my constituency.

"It's important that people have confidence in politicians, and this can only be improved by opening our finances up to public scrutiny."

These views were backed by Chingford and Woodford Green MP, Iain Duncan Smith, who claimed just £566 in ACA expenses, last year.

He said: "Everything should be completely transparent because I think it's important that people have confidence in their politicians."

Mr Cohen admitted that the main item which he has claimed back on his London home has been mortgage interest.

And he defended his position, saying: "I can only speak for myself, but living in the constituency is living on the job.

"I do need some private life too, as does my family.

"My overwhelming preference is for MPs to be paid an appropriate salary which recognises this important position and which covers expenses."

A detailed list detailing all MPs' expenses over the cost of £25 will be published by Parliament on April 1.