MPs to show receipts on expenses over £25
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The amount MPs can charge for expenses without receipts is to be slashed to £25 after the revelations of parliamentary abuse of taxpayers' money.
MPs can currently claim £250 for expenses without receipts to justify the payments but, from1 April, the threshold will be cut down to just £25. The sum MPs can draw for petty cash from their office expenses is also being cut from £250 to £50 per month.
The changes come after public outrage when it was revealed the disgraced MP Derek Conway had paid his two sons more than £10,000 each for part-time roles.
Their total payments ran to more than £80,000 but he could not substantiate the work they did for him. The MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup was suspended from the Commons for 10 days in January, stripped of the Tory whip, and ordered to pay back £13,161. He later announced he was standing down at the next election.
It triggered a wider review that could force MPs to publish details of payments to their spouses and other members of their families. David Cameron, the Tory leader, ordered his front bench to make the disclosures voluntarily before the Commons tightens the rules but many MPs are resisting the move.
Gordon Brown's official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister welcomes any steps towards greater transparency in MPs' expenses." Challenged on why Mr Brown did not publish his own expenses in full, the spokesman replied: "That's not his decision. It's a matter for the House authorities. We can't just start making one-off initiatives of this kind. There's an overall decision that needs to be taken by the House authorities."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments