More MPs bill taxpayer for rent as they let out their homes

At least 32 MPs have been found to be claiming rent for second homes on their expenses while simultaneously letting out property nearby, an investigation reveals.



The MPs, including former Cabinet ministers, are claiming expenses of up to £20,000 a year each for rent, as well as receiving money from properties that were often bought and refurbished with taxpayer assistance.

Last month it was disclosed that 27 MPs were letting out their second homes while charging the taxpayer for renting another property.

Tonight’s Channel 4’s Dispatches programme found five more — three MPs who were carrying out the practice in London and another two who were renting and letting properties in their constituencies.

The MPs now found to be renting out homes in London are: John Whittingdale, the Conservative chairman of the culture, media and sport committee, the Tory MP Mark Pritchard and John Denham, a former Labour cabinet minister.

Labour’s Michael Meacher was also found by Dispatches to have moved out of his home in Oldham to rent a new property, while Pat McFadden, a Labour former minister, did the same in Wolverhampton.

These are the same MPs who voted to cut housing benefit for people who they consider to be "under-occupying" their rented homes.

One rule for MPs - another for everyone else!

These are the same MPs who voted to cut housing benefit for people who they consider to be "under-occupying" their rented homes.

One rule for MPs - another for everyone else!

Absolute reprobates! they imprison people for crimes for less than they themselves commit.
All governments are corrupt.

Absolute reprobates! they imprison people for crimes for less than they themselves commit.
All governments are corrupt.

Well said FairMay and to the forum

source : The Daily Mail (so it must be true)

I can dream....

Thanks for the welcome.

Society breaks down completely when trust in our representatives vanishes.
We are now perilously close to that stage.
People have almost zero confidence in politicians, the banks, and the institutions in this country and it is almost impossible to see how they are going to regain any such confindence again.
You can't have a functioning democracy when there is no sense of shame, and we have now reached that point.

Grim I know, but there we are.