STATEMENT ON MPs' EXPENSES

The public are quite rightly angry and dismayed at the daily release of extraordinary MPs’ expense claims.

I have long called for much greater transparency in the system and for an external auditing process. It is not acceptable that we police our own expenses. The current system is a shambles and has been for some time. I have had receipts refused by the Fees Office as there was no room to store them!

I have average expenses for a Member of Parliament, the majority of which goes towards paying the four members of staff (two full time, two part time) in order to deliver the best possible service to the people of Boston and Skegness. I use the office cost allowance to pay for surgeries, some taxis, stationery, office equipment and office running costs, supplies and office furniture.

David Cameron has taken decisive action on this matter to try to redress the damage done to our political process and I support these changes wholeheartedly. With immediate effect there will be;

• An immediate ban on Conservative MPs claiming furniture, other household goods and daily subsistence allowance. Only rent, mortgage interest, overnight hotel bills, utility bills, service charges and council taxes can be claimed.
• As soon as practicably possible, every expense claim will be immediately published online.
• No Conservative MP will be allowed to re-designate their first and second homes for the purposes of the Additional Cost Allowance (ACA) without approval from the Chief Whip.
• Anyone selling a home for which mortgage interest is currently paid for by the taxpayer must confirm they will pay Capital Gains Tax if the property is sold. I hope to make my expenses claims available as soon as possible once confidential details, such as bank account and credit card details, are removed. Meanwhile, I acknowledge that this situation is bad; the system is wrong and requires a complete overhaul. Sadly I fear the damage that has been done will take years to rebuild.