Maldon: MP claims 'I haven't done anything wrong' in new expenses row

9:10am Wednesday 21st November 2012 in Local News By Emma Robinson

Maldon: MP claims 'I haven't done anything wrong' in new expenses row Maldon: MP claims 'I haven't done anything wrong' in new expenses row

Maldon's MP has come under fire for billing the taxpayer for rent, while he lets out another home.

Conservative MP John Whittingdale is among 32 other MP’s who have been found to be claiming expenses for rent, while letting out a second property.

The Standard also found that Mr Whittingdale is claiming expenses of around £19,000 a year for rent, after he moved out of a flat with a small monthly mortgage of around £180.

He is claiming the capped amount for rent, which does not cover the whole weekly rent of around £420.

Monday’s Dispatches programme on Channel 4 brought to light Mr Whittingdale’s expenses changes, along with other MPs.

Mr Whittingdale, the chairman of the culture, media and sport committee, defended his position to The Standard.

He said he was forced to move out of the flat he has owned for years and into a nearby property, with a higher rental claim on his expenses, because of rule changes.

See this week's MBS for the full story.

Comments(6)

bancroftkmg says...
12:21pm Wed 21 Nov 12

Within the definition of the Commons rules maybe- but morally you definitely have done something wrong. Never really understood when he had a home in the area we had to fund a second home of a flat in London. Most people in the district who work in London commute even if they work long and odd hours but the same rules don't seem to apply to MP's who seem to believe they are superior to the "little people" who just vote for them. Disgusted

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paultheuver1 says...
3:29pm Wed 21 Nov 12

Mr Whittingdale is quite correct in stating that he has done nothing wrong, as he has clearly acted within the rules. The very select rules which he and fellow MP's choose to operate under.
I did think that back when MP’s salaries were reviewed and almost doubled that we could expect more from our MP’s. Clearly I was wrong as they still expect more from us. That said, we all know that if you place food in the trough, a pig will eat it.

Like Norman Tebbit's father I commuted to find work, I did so at an ever increasing personal cost. Unlike MP’s, my travel was never subsidized or free, far from it as I paid for it from money that had already been taxed. I commuted from home to my place of work for which I was paid a salary. My salary covered all the work I undertook for my employer. Although I was involved in work outside my day to day employment, I was never paid any extra to sit on a Committee or Chair any projects.
I, along with millions of others in this country did this because we have to…to exist.
I still struggle to understand what makes 646 Members of Parliament think they are special and warrant better treatment than those they purport to serve.

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L2097 says...
8:01am Mon 26 Nov 12

MPs work to the rules that are defined to them.

Criticism is surely better applied to those that make the rules - not those that operate within them?

In my opinion John is an MP who actually offers great value and is highly respected. In addition to his central role he also supports local issues very well.

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Hawthorne says...
11:24am Mon 26 Nov 12

Well said paultheuver1. There was once a time I'm sure that MPs hours were considered antisocial and unusual, but those days are long past and in the current climate we are all working harder. Given the length of my day I'd love either a flat in London or my travel paid for. I get neither; an MP can have both. Mr Whittingdale seems to be a hard-working MP. Perhaps he ought to join the rest of us hard workers on the shabby trains those he represents have to endure.

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DontForgetToBreathe says...
1:02pm Mon 26 Nov 12

I question whether he is a good MP, if such a thing exist!

I've been to see this man twice at his surgery in burnham concerning local matters. On both occasions he could not have been less interested in the subjects I was raising. Neither were personal and neither would have asked from him anything more than his endorsement.

He seems more interested in chairing his media committees as they get him in the paper and on the news.

I find him to be as grasping and vain glorious as all the rest.

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keep dengie green says...
5:40am Tue 27 Nov 12

What ever the rights and wrongs of JW and yes others have also confirmed to his laid back attitude towards this area the real rot relating to expenses lies on our door step at the hands of local Councilors there are No checks and measures in place and most of them think they are untouchable in their party driven old boys club.
You can not tar every one with same brush but perhaps an indepth Audit of their expenses would throw up many a suprise.
Some one reminded recentely me having attended a JW surgery that his comments relating to an issue on the Dengie that it was like wild west lawless soceity but when challanged to do something about then the man got most anoyed and agitated - Ho Hum

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