Scrutiny of data provided by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority shows that 169 Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs who backed the “bedroom tax” bill have amassed claims of up to £25,000 each for their accommodation bills writes Jack Monroe in the Mirror{jcomments on}
In a further Mirror report expenses claims have been described:
Tory Nigel Adams made the highest claim asking the taxpayer for £25,309.28 – an average of £486 per week. His rent costs for a property in London is £1,993.33 a month.
Close behind Mr Adams was Richard Bacon, MP for South Norfolk, who claimed £25,094.58 during the year from 2012/13.The money went on rental costs of almost £2,000 a month as well as hotel bills of up to £596 - all in the capital.
MP Stephen Barclay, who represents North Cambridgeshire, asked for £24,226.09, despite living less than two hours from Westminster.
MP Richard Fuller, who represents Bedford and Kempston, claimed £18,384.68 – despite his constituency being 40 minutes from central London.
Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce was among the highest claimants, claiming £23,057.08
Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke, who once suggested that benefit claimants should receive their payments on a plastic “scrounger card” to restrict where the payments could be spent, claimed £19,682.41.
Conservative MP Esther McVey claimed £20,000.
In comparison, the average cost of rent for people living in social housing is around £300 a month.
The accommodation expenses claimed by the MPs who voted to keep the damaging tax could pay the bedroom tax for up to 230,000 victims for a year.
Conservative MP for Amber Valley, Nigel Mills says “We’re allowed to claim up to £150 a night to stay in a hotel.” He claimed £9456.60 last year.
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