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Property ladder problems? - Become an MP
ReportInvestor
Posts: 3,646 Forumite
Sunday Times
One minister will soon have claimed enough from taxpayers to pay off the mortgage she took out in 2001, while the property has doubled in value.
"RUTH KELLY was under pressure this weekend to explain an apparent “black hole” in the Commons expenses she claims on a second home in her constituency.
According to parliamentary records, the education secretary has claimed £72,000 in taxpayers’ money over four years on a house in her Lancashire constituency.
But mystery surrounds the amount Kelly claims, as the interest on the property’s mortgage should amount to only about £5,000 a year — £20,000 for the four-year period.
Under Commons rules Kelly, like many other MPs, is allowed to claim back these interest payments, plus a range of domestic expenses like council tax and energy bills. However, local residents claim that the average cost of such bills is around £2,000. Even adding up these expenses over four years would still leave a “black hole” — according to the Tories — of around £44,000.
The rules also allow MPs to claim for some furniture, security, repairs and decoration, although the house was less than 15 years old when Kelly and her husband bought the property in 2001 with a £101,148 mortgage.
Last night Kelly repeatedly refused to answer questions about the figures. Instead an aide insisted that “all money claimed is in strict accordance with the rules set out by the Fees Office”..............."
One minister will soon have claimed enough from taxpayers to pay off the mortgage she took out in 2001, while the property has doubled in value.
"RUTH KELLY was under pressure this weekend to explain an apparent “black hole” in the Commons expenses she claims on a second home in her constituency.
According to parliamentary records, the education secretary has claimed £72,000 in taxpayers’ money over four years on a house in her Lancashire constituency.
But mystery surrounds the amount Kelly claims, as the interest on the property’s mortgage should amount to only about £5,000 a year — £20,000 for the four-year period.
Under Commons rules Kelly, like many other MPs, is allowed to claim back these interest payments, plus a range of domestic expenses like council tax and energy bills. However, local residents claim that the average cost of such bills is around £2,000. Even adding up these expenses over four years would still leave a “black hole” — according to the Tories — of around £44,000.
The rules also allow MPs to claim for some furniture, security, repairs and decoration, although the house was less than 15 years old when Kelly and her husband bought the property in 2001 with a £101,148 mortgage.
Last night Kelly repeatedly refused to answer questions about the figures. Instead an aide insisted that “all money claimed is in strict accordance with the rules set out by the Fees Office”..............."
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Comments
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just saw a flying pig.0
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on the make and on the take...they are all at it...houses, cars, expenses, pensions."enough is a feast"...old Buddist proverb0
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Tories = sex scandals Labour = money scandals
Plus ca change, plus ca meme chose.0 -
I'd like to hear what she had to say on the matter. Seems to me like she only ever opens her mouth to change feet...The best things in life are NOT free - but they sure are cheaper with MSE!:j0
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Mr Investor, you should be ashamed - this is the Politics Of Envy..!!
Our Ruthie's had to stop going out every other Tuesday night to scrimp a hundred or so k together you know, not as if she's made of money!! Only the other week our Tess had to check down the back of the sofa, and Chezza's got millions of mortagages - she'll be running herself ragged on the charity do's to make that back let me tell you!
Just coz we don't spend the housing allowance on fags, booze and pies like like you... makes me spit. You'll be telling me next there's a housing crisis, What Crisis - just use your allowances on what they're meant for!!
Can't you stay in now and again and eat cake or something??0 -
No the tories, would be far, far, far, far worse !
Likely they would be selling arms to iran prior to any war. for several millions in the pocket, not a few k...
Tories are 1000 times worse than any labour theiving scumbags....0 -
labour is the new tory party. so they do it better. when they are caught they show more self righteous indignation and ask how could you possibly think that me a puritanical soul can do anything remotely sleazy.
we only recommend wonderful philanthropic people for peerage. they have shown their philanthrophy by donating and loaning money to worthwhile causes0 -
can someone please tell me why this sort of thing gos on? just dont understand.0
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