As revelations about their expenses continued to batter reputations of MPs throughout the UK, Herefordshire’s two elected members remained calm in the face of the gathering storm.
Neither Hereford Lib Dem MP Paul Keetch, nor Leominster Conservative MP Bill Wiggin, appeared concerned that an investigation would unearth anything unsavoury in their expenses claims.
Each MP is paid a £64,766 salary for their parliamentary duties, and both claimed the full permissable Additional Costs Allowance of £23,083 – which is to cover expenses associated with their London bases, while maintaining their county homes in Hereford (Paul Keetch) and near Colwall (Bill Wiggin).
The Hereford MP said: “MPs who live away from London do need accommodation there, and it is right that money should be made available to allow them to do this.
“But it is wrong for MPs who live in Greater London or who live in grace and favour accommodation there to claim expenses for their homes there. My main home is in Hereford and has been since I was elected.
“The majority of my allowed expenses relate to mortgage interest, utility bills or council tax on my London base.
“Allowances should cover costs of living in London to work in Parliament, but your own home should not be financed by public money.”
He added that he considered an alternative to houses in London could be a four-star London hotel in which MPs could claim bed, breakfast and evening meal.
Meanwhile, MP Bill Wiggin told the Journal he did not expect to appear in the more sensational columns of the Daily Telegraph, which has been leading the media pack on revelations of expenses claimed by MPs from the Prime Minister downwards.
“MPs like me did not make the rules but inherited them,” he said.
“ I do have a house in London where I live in the week and I get an allowance to live there.
“I have three children aged three, four and seven, who go to school in London because the term times fit in with when Parliament is sitting – this means I can see my children during my working week.
“The reason I have a mortgage allowance is because being an MP is my job.
“You become an MP because you want to help the community, not because you want to fiddle your expenses,” he said.
“I am definitely in favour of changing the rules so that rich people are not the only ones who can afford to become MPs”.
According to the website www.theyworkforyou.com both Herefordshire MPs share joint first place in claiming the maximum £23,083 for additional costs allowance associated with their London properties.
The two MPs have claimed close on £2million between them in total expenses since 2001, with Paul Keetch getting £935,543 and Bill Wiggin £917,203.
