East Worthing MP Tim Loughton on his expenses
WHEN it comes to MPs expenses East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton ranks 337th out of the 645 Members of Parliament.
Mr Loughton has called for reform of the system after public outrage at MPs expenses.
He said: "Every MP's circumstances is different and each should be accountable.
"For my part, I have always supported any moves to make the workings of MPs more transparent and accountable, which is why I have published fuller details of my expenses on my website voluntarily for some years well before the recent row blew up, and have always been happy to answer any questions from my constituents, though few have raised it.
"Since becoming an MP in 1997, I have maintained the same two properties – a house in West Sussex just outside my constituency and a flat in Westminster in walking distance from the House of Commons where I usually stay during the week.
70 hour week
"Both these properties were purchased without any public funds.
"No refurbishments have been claimed for, no gains have been realised.
"As anyone can see from my website, my normal working week averages over 70 hours when Parliament is sitting.
"That includes several days a week when I am in my Commons office by 7.30 in the morning and not leaving until after 11pm, which makes commuting wholly impractical."
Mr Loughton said he had chosen to claim the Additional Costs Allowance (ACA) on his Sussex home, though he had significant mortgages on both properties.
Spirit of expenses
In 2007/08, this ACA amounted to 23,083.
"As the leaked receipts show, I have claimed for running costs on that one property, which include mortgage interest, utility bills, council tax and insurance.
"I have never charged any capital goods, gardening, cleaning, mock beam installation or moat clearance or the like!
"I am more than happy to justify any of these expenses to my constituents which fully comply with the rules, and which, more importantly, comply with the spirit of parliamentary expenses being necessary to enable me to get on with my job in more than one place of work, working unsociable hours and being accountable to my constituents."
To read more about Worthing's MPs Tim Loughton and Peter Bottomley's views about MPs expenses, click here.
Read about Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert's anger at anti-gay bias by clicking here.
Read about Peter Bottomley and his expenses by clicking here.
Brian Stephens discusses MPs expenses in this week's Personal View column.
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Weather for Worthing
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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