MPs' expenses (politics)

[Paul Waine]

I've noticed one or two comments on other threads about how much X or Y MP claims in expenses.

A lot of information is published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA)

http://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/interactive-map/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Expenses are published from 2010/11. I assume the years run from April to March - but I'm not certain.

There's obviously a delay in publishing the data, 2016-2017 does not appear to be complete.

You can see expenses claimed split between (a) staff costs; (b) office costs and (c) accommodation costs.

I doubt the MPs who's constituencies are in/near London can claim accommodation costs.

It would be interesting to see where the staff costs are spent... for example, how many MPs employ their partner or other members of their family. So far as I can tell, this doesn't seem to be available.

[aggi]

It would be interesting to see where the staff costs are spent... for example, how many MPs employ their partner or other members of their family. So far as I can tell, this doesn't seem to be available.

I believe that's known as doing a Farage. Although to be honest, lots do. About 25% of them at the moment but this will be banned in future.

No details as to how much they are paid but they're declared in the Register of Interests (I suspect the formatting here won't work too well).

Adams_Nigel
I employ my spouse, Claire Adams, as part-time Office Manager.
Adams_Nigel
I employ my spouse, Claire Adams, as part-time Office Manager.
Amess_David
I employ my wife, Julia Amess, as part-time Secretary/Caseworker.
Ansell_Caroline
I employ my husband, Nicholas Ansell, as a full time Personal Assistant. (Registered 29 May 2015)
Arkless_Richard
I employ my wife, Anne Elizabeth Arkless, as part-time Personal Assistant. (Registered 05 June 2015)
Bebb_Guto
I employ my spouse, Esyllt Penri, to provide translation services as part time Office Manager/Personal Assistant. (Registered 27 January 2017)
Beckett_Margaret
I employ my husband, Leo Beckett, as Office Manager.
Bellingham_Henry
I employ my wife, Emma Bellingham, as temporary part-time Parliamentary Assistant/Researcher.
Benn_Hilary
I employ my wife, Sally Clark, as part-time Research/Parliamentary Assistant.
Benyon_Richard
I employ my sister, Catherine Haig, as part time Senior Researcher. (Registered 26 January 2017)
Beresford_Paul
I employ my wife, Julie Beresford, as part-time Secretary/Diary Secretary.
Betts_Clive
I employ my partner, James Thomas, as Senior Parliamentary Assistant.
Blackford_Ian
I employ my step-son, John O'Leary, as Caseworker. (Registered 03 June 2015)
Blackman_Bob
I employ my wife, Nicola Blackman, as Office Manager.
Bone_Peter
I employ my wife, Jeanette Bone, as Executive Secretary.
Bradley_Karen
I employ my husband, Neil Bradley, as Office Manager.
Brady_Graham
I employ my wife, Victoria Lowther, as Senior Research/Parliamentary Assistant.
Brazier_Julian
I employ my wife, Katharine Brazier, as part-time Executive Secretary.
Buckland_Robert
I employ my wife, Sian Buckland, as a part time caseworker. (Registered 13 July 2016)
Burt_Alistair
I employ my wife, Eve Burt, as Office Manager.
Campbell_Gregory
I employ my wife, Frances Campbell, as part-time Secretary.
Campbell_Ronnie
I employ my wife, Deirdre Campbell, as a part time Caseworker. (Updated 1 June 2015)
Carswell_Douglas
I employ my wife, Clementine Carswell, as part-time Diary Secretary.
Cash_William
I employ my wife, Bridget Cash, as Parliamentary Assistant.
Caulfield_Maria
I employ my partner, Steve Bell, as a Parliamentary Assistant. (Registered 04 January 2016; updated 22 March 2016)
Chishti_Rehman
I employ my sister, Nusrat Ahmed, as Office Manager.
Chope_Christopher
I employ my wife, Christine Chope, as Secretary.
Clwyd_Ann
I employ my niece, Bethan Haydon-Jones, as part time Executive Office Manager. (Registered 16 February 2017)
Coffey_Therese
I employ my sister, Clare Coffey, as a secretary (on a casual basis). (Registered 10 June 2015)
Costa_Alberto
I employ my spouse, Dr Maria Costa, as part-time Office Manager. (Registered 20 April 2016)
Crausby_David
I employ my wife, Enid Crausby, as Office Manager.
Cummins_Judith
I employ my husband, Mark Cummins, as a Senior Researcher. (Registered 16 May 2016)
Cunningham_Alex
I employ my son, John Cunningham, as a Caseworker.
Davies_Byron
I employ my wife, Gillian Davies, as part-time Communications Officer. (Registered 14 July 2015)
Davies_David-t-c
I employ my wife, Aliz Davies, as part-time Office Manager/Senior Secretary. (Updated 10 September 2015)
Davies_Glyn
I employ my spouse, Bobbie Davies, as Senior Secretary.
Donaldson_Jeffrey-M
I employ my wife, Eleanor Donaldson, as a Secretary.
Dorries_Nadine
I employ my daughter, Jennifer Dorries, as Senior Secretary.
Double_Steve
I employ my wife, Anne Double, as full time Senior Caseworker and Diary Secretary. (Registered 29 May 2015)
Dowd_Jim
I employ my nephew, Fred Sollitt Dowd, as a Parliamentary Assistant. (Updated 5 June 2015)
Doyle-Price_Jackie
I employ my partner, Mark Coxshall, as Office Manager.
Dugher_Michael
I employ my wife, Joanna Dugher, as part-time Office Manager.
Elliott_Julie
I employ my son, Miles Elliott, as a Parliamentary Assistant.
Elliott_Tom
I employ my sister, Thelma Lancaster, as part time Secretary. (Registered 31 January 2017)
Evans_Graham
I employ my wife, Cheryl Evans, as a Senior Secretary.
Fallon_Michael
I employ my wife, Wendy Fallon, as Senior Caseworker (constituency based).
Flint_Caroline
I employ my husband, Phil Cole, as Office Manager.
Flynn_Paul
I employ my wife, Lynne Samantha Flynn, as Senior Secretary.
Fovargue_Yvonne
I employ my husband, Paul Kenny, as a part-time Senior Parliamentary Assistant.
Furniss_Gill
I employ my daughter, Emily Grace Ahmed, as part-time constituency support officer. (Registered 03 June 2016)
Gale_Roger
I employ my wife, Suzy Gale, as Office Manager.
Gardiner_Barry
I employ my wife, Caroline Smith, as Office Manager and Senior Caseworker. (Updated 5 June 2015)
Garnier_Mark
I employ my spouse, Caroline Garnier, as Office Manager.
Gillan_Cheryl
I employ my husband, Jack Coates Leeming, as a part-time Office Manager/Researcher.
Glass_Pat
I employ my niece, Sarah Gannon, as an Apprentice.
Goodwill_Robert
I employ my wife, Maureen Goodwill, as Parliamentary Assistant and Caseworker.
Grant_Helen
I employ my husband, Simon Grant, as Senior Parliamentary Assistant.
Gray_James
I employ my wife, Philippa Gray, as Executive and Diary Secretary.
Gray_Neil
I employ my brother-in-law Adam Robinson as my office manager. (Registered 13 August 2015)
Grayling_Chris
I employ my wife, Sue Grayling, as Office Manager.
Hamilton_Fabian
I employ my spouse, Rosemary Hamilton, as a part time caseworker. (Registered 30 January 2017)
Hammond_Stephen
I employ my wife, Sally Hammond, as Office Manager/Secretary.
Hart_Simon
I employ my wife, Abigail Kate Hart, as part-time Office Manager.
Haselhurst_Alan
I employ my wife Lady (Angela) Haselhurst, as Office Manager.
Hayes_John
I employ my wife, Susan Hayes, as Administrative Manager.
Heald_Oliver
I employ my wife, Christine Heald, as Office Manager.
Healey_John
I employ my wife, Jackie Bate, as part-time Office Manager.
Hoare_Simon
I employ my wife, Kate Hoare, as a part-time constituency caseworker. (Registered 29 February 2016)
Hodgson_Sharon
I employ my husband, Alan Hodgson, as Office Manager.
Hopkins_Kelvin
I employ my wife, Patricia Hopkins, as part-time Constituency Secretary.
Howarth_George
I employ my wife, Julie Howarth, as Office Manager.
Hoyle_Lindsay
I employ my wife, Catherine Hoyle, as part-time Constituency Secretary.
Hussain_Imran
I employ my brother, Kamran Hussain, as Parliamentary Researcher. (Registered 10 June 2016)
Jayawardena_Ranil
I employ my wife, Alison Jayawardena, as part-time Senior Researcher. (Registered 14 June 2016)
Johnson_Diana
I employ my partner, Kevin Morton, as Research and Communications Manager.
Johnson_Gareth
I employ my wife, Wendy Johnson, as part-time Parliamentary Assistant.
Jones_Gerald
I employ my partner, Tyrone Powell, as Senior Parliamentary Assistant. (Registered 04 June 2015)
Jones_Helen
I employ my husband, Mike Vobe, as Senior Parliamentary Assistant.
Kerevan_George
I employ my wife, Angela Wrapson, as Personal Assistant. (Registered 19 January 2016)
Kirby_Simon
I employ my sister, Rebecca Jane Kirby, as Office Manager. (Registered 29 May 2015)
Knight_Greg
I employ my wife, Janet Knight, as Parliamentary Assistant.
Lavery_Ian
I employ my wife, Hilary Lavery, as Senior Secretary.
Leigh_Edward
I employ my wife, Mary Leigh, as Office Manager.
Lewell-Buck_Emma
I employ my husband, Simon Buck, as part-time Parliamentary Assistant. (Registered 28 January 2016)
Liddell-Grainger_Ian
I employ my wife, Jill Liddell-Grainger, as Parliamentary Assistant.
Loughton_Tim
I employ my wife, Elizabeth Loughton, as part-time Office Manager. (Updated 18 May 2015)
Lucas_Ian-C
I employ my wife, Norah Lucas, as part-time Secretary.
Mann_John
I employ my wife, Joanna White, as Office Manager.
McCartney_Karl
I employ my wife, Cordelia McCartney, as Office Manager.
McLoughlin_Patrick
I employ my wife, Lynn McLoughlin, as Executive Secretary and Office Manager.
Meale_Alan
I employ my spouse, Diana Gilhespy, as part-time Senior Parliamentary Assistant.
Mercer_Johnny
I employ my wife, Felicity Cornelius-Mercer, as Constituency Support Manager. (Registered 02 June 2015; updated 28 April 2016)
Monaghan_Paul
I employ my brother, Mark Innes Monaghan, as Constituency Communications Manager. (Registered 15 May 2015)
Morris_Grahame
I employ my wife, Michelle Morris, as part-time Senior Secretary.
Murray_Sheryll
I employ my partner, Mr Robert Davidson, as Office Manager.
Murrison_Andrew
I employ my wife, Jennifer Murrison, as part-time Senior Caseworker. (Updated 29 June 2015)
OHara_Brendan
I employ my wife, Catherine O'Hara, as part time Constituency Assistant. (Registered 19 January 2016)
Osamor_Kate
I employ my son, Ish Osamor, as Senior Communications Officer. (Registered 18 April 2016)
Parish_Neil
I employ my wife, Susan Parish, as Junior Secretary.
Patel_Priti
I employ my husband, Alex Sawyer, as part-time Office Manager.
Pearce_Teresa
I employ my partner, Paul O’Neil, as Constituency Office Manager.
Penning_Mike
I employ my wife, Angela C Penning, as Office Manager.
Phillips_Jess
I employ my husband, Tom Phillips, as Constituency Support Manager. (Registered 07 June 2015)
Poulter_Dan
I employ my mother, Carol Poulter, as Office Manager.
Pound_Stephen
I employ my wife, Maggie Pound, as part-time constituency Caseworker. (Updated 21 May 2015)
Qureshi_Yasmin
I employ my husband, Nadeem Ashraf, as Constituency Caseworker and Administrative Officer. (Registered 15 March 2016)
Reynolds_Jonathan
I employ my wife, Claire Reynolds, as part-time Senior Parliamentary Assistant. (Registered 21 April 2016)
Robertson_Laurence
I employ my wife, Anne Marie Robertson, as Office Manager.
Robinson_Gavin
I employ my father, John Robinson, as part-time Office Manager. (Registered 01 August 2016)
Shelbrooke_Alec
I employ my wife, Susan Shelbrooke, as a part time senior secretary. (Updated 4 June 2015)
Skinner_Dennis
I employ my partner, Lois Blasenheim, as Executive Secretary.
Smith_Angela
I employ my husband, Steven Wilson, as Senior Parliamentary Researcher.
Solloway_Amanda
I employ my daughter, Bethan Eddy, as Office Manager. (Registered 19 July 2016)
Stevenson_John
I employ my partner, Tracy Nixon, as part-time Senior Secretary.
Stewart_Bob
I employ my wife, Claire Podbielski-Stewart, as part-time Senior Parliamentary Assistant. (Registered 15 May 2015)
Streeter_Gary
I employ my wife, Janet Streeter, as part-time Junior Parliamentary Researcher.
Stringer_Graham
I employ my step-daughter, Eleanor Carr, as Parliamentary Assistant.
Stuart_Graham
I employ my sister, Nicola Roberts, as Office Manager. (Updated 3 June 2015)
Sturdy_Julian
I employ my wife, Victoria Sturdy, as part time Secretary. (Registered 04 June 2015)
Swayne_Desmond
I employ my wife, Moira Swayne, as Secretary. (Updated 20 May 2015)
Swire_Hugo
I employ my wife, Alexandra (Sasha) Swire, as Senior Researcher/Parliamentary Assistant.
Syms_Robert
I employ my wife Fiona Syms as a part time Senior Parliamentary Assistant.
Tami_Mark
I employ my wife, Sally Tami, as part-time Secretary/budget control.
Thompson_Owen
I employ my partner, Kelly-Marie Parry, as Senior Parliamentary Assistant. (Registered 20 October 2016)
Tomlinson_Justin
I employ my partner, Kate Bennett, as Constituency Officer Manager. (Registered 08 July 2016)
Tomlinson_Michael
I employ my wife, Frances Mynors, as Principal Secretary. (Registered 05 June 2015; updated 13 January 2017)
Twigg_Derek
I employ my wife, Mary Twigg, as part time Executive Secretary. (Updated 29 May 2015)
Vaz_Valerie
I employ my husband, Paul Townsend, as a Senior Parliamentary Assistant. (Updated 05 January 2017)
Vickers_Martin
I employ my wife, Ann Vickers, as part-time Junior Secretary.
Walker_Charles
I employ my wife, Fiona Walker, as Office Manager.
Wallace_Ben
I employ my wife, Liza Wallace, as part-time Research Assistant.
Warburton_David
I employ my wife, Harriet Warburton, as a Communications Officer and Personal Assistant. (Registered 05 June 2015)
Whittaker_Craig
I employ my daughter, Sophie Whittaker, as part-time Junior Secretary.
Wilson_Rob
I employ my wife, Jane Wilson, as part time Constituency Assistant. (Registered 01 February 2017)
Wright_Iain
I employ my wife, Tiffiny Wright, as Office Manager.

[minnieclaret]

I have no problem at all with an MP employing their spouse. They are ,supposedly intelligent and I would hope they have a partner who is up to the job.

The one that ticks me off is accomodation. I clicked, totally randomly, on one. it came up Claire Perry MP for Devizes. She claimed £17603 last year.
The way they swing it is to get an astronomically priced base in central London. Have their mortgage paid for 5 years and then take the gamble. If re-elected the con goes on. If defeated they have a London property worth £x more than it was 5 years ago and they pocket the difference.
Put the basturds in barracks.

[Paul Waine]

I have no problem at all with an MP employing their spouse. They are ,supposedly intelligent and I would hope they have a partner who is up to the job.

The one that ticks me off is accomodation. I clicked, totally randomly, on one. it came up Claire Perry MP for Devizes. She claimed £17603 last year.
The way they swing it is to get an astronomically priced base in central London. Have their mortgage paid for 5 years and then take the gamble. If re-elected the con goes on. If defeated they have a London property worth £x more than it was 5 years ago and they pocket the difference.
Put the basturds in barracks.

Hi Minnie, the issue with employing partner or other family member is are they paid a fair amount for what they do, or are they paid too much? It is public money that is being spent, rather than the MP's own private funds.

One of the French presidential candidates had exactly this issue.

I'm not certain - but I think they've changed the rules on accommodation. It's not intended to be as generous now as it was before the MPs' expenses scandal. But, I still think it's possible for MP X to rent his flat to MP Y and so on. It might be that IPSA has some say in how much rent is paid.

[Paul Waine]

IPSA states following re change in accommodation costs for MPs:

Capital Gains repayments
As a transitional measure from May 2010 to August 2012, MPs who were re-elected in 2010 were allowed to continue claiming the cost of mortgage interest payments to give them time to make alternative arrangements. Where the value of the property rose during this period, the MP paid us a sum to cover the taxpayer’s share of that increase.

David Jones (cons) paid >£80,000, Gregory Campbell (dup) paid >£60,000 and Philip Hammond (cons) paid > £30,000.

[IanMcL]

It must be very lonely away from your family all week. If proper job and fair pay, no issue with spouse.