NORTH KENT: MPs Howard Stoate and Adam Holloway reveal expenses receipts
9:00am Saturday 23rd May 2009
TWO MPs have revealed to News Shopper their receipts for expenses claims made on their second homes.
Dartford MP Dr Howard Stoate and Gravesham MP Adam Holloway have released the costs of claims they made during 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08, ahead of when all MPs’ claims are due to be published next month (June).
Dr Stoate has already announced that he will stop claiming the allowance on his second home in Kennington, south London, and return the £11,000 he has so far claimed during 2008/09.
Over the three years, Dr Stoate claimed for three kettles costing £29.99, £49.59 and £67.45, a £143.95 replacement radio/CD player, a £124.90 TV aerial, a £45 duvet and a £560.74 high definition 32" LCD TV.
The Labour MP said: “I have one kettle in my bedroom for a cup of tea in the morning and one in the kitchen. The third one broke.
“I don’t think the cost of the TV is the end of the world, it’s not excessive.”
He also used taxpayers’ money in May 2007 to buy a £329 fridge freezer, £279 dishwasher and spent £443 on DIY materials.
In July 2007 he bought a £49.99 toaster and a £299 microwave cooker, after buying one that later broke for £52.50 in February 2006.
He paid £200.48 to have a fence repaired in November 2007 and £89.85 for another fence repair in March 2008.
Over the three years he spent a total of £491.89 on gardening items and from July to November 2006 he claimed £541.77 on DIY materials.
Dr Stoate said: “I could have got a gardener and claimed more.
“I am keen on DIY, I find it therapeutic and relaxing.
“I don’t get people to come and fit things, I do it myself.”
September 2007 was the most expensive month, with £4,520 spent on replacement windows, £129.98 on gardening tools and £250 on furniture.
He said: “The replacement windows are the only big item. There were a couple of break ins in my road and the windows needed replacing for security issues.”
Dr Stoate says he always sought to abide by the rules and never claimed the full allowance in one year.
He said: “I fully understand the public anger and I must be prepared to accept responsibility for my part in a system long overdue for reform.”
Tory MP Adam Holloway claimed £500 for a TV in 2005/06, as well as spending £2,219.75 on furniture, £200 on a VHS/DVD player and £449 on a washer drier.
He also claimed £22.50 on half the cost of a frying pan, saying: “I charged for half the cost because a little bell rang in my head saying it was not reasonable to spend almost £50 on a frying pan.”
In the same year he claimed £239 for a hoover, £1.95 for two light bulbs and £40 for two lamps.
The following year he claimed £5,200 for carpeting and a total of £10,300 in stamp duty.
He said: “If you have an allowance for carpeting do you claim it or not claim it?
“An awful lot of work that has been done in this house has not been claimed for.”
In 2007/08 Mr Holloway claimed £342.51 on tiles for his hall and bathroom, £47.96 on a garden hose and sprinkler, £22.99 on a clothes rail and £19.99 on a wall stripper.
Mr Holloway said: “I attempted to not claim a second home allowance, but could not make it work.
"In September I sold my flat in London and began commuting from my place in Gravesend every day, but it was a nightmare.
"Because I start work at around 7.30am and didn't get home until around 11.20pm, there were times when I was only spending seven hours at home a day.
"Commuting made me less productive as an MP.
"So six weeks ago I got a flat in London near my office, and will decide whether to claim second home allowances for either the flat or the home in Gravesend."
"I have no plans to give up my second home allowance, as I use them for what they are for."
Gravesham MP Adam Holloway shows reporter Michael Purton his receipts for expenses claimed on his second home.
Dartford MP Dr Howard Stoate has said he will stop claiming a second home allowance.
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