Another Fiddling Mp.

[webbo3]

He should be made to pay every penny back.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5140039/Jeremy-Corbyn-aid-embroiled-major-expenses-scandal.html

[Gromit]

Gromit // he is one of a handful of Lords’ frontbenchers ENTITLED to a Lords Office Holders Allowance (LOHA), currently £36,366... //

He is entitled to the allowance, it is up to him how he spends it. It sounds like he has not broken any rules and has not fiddled anything. Claiming travel expenses as well does seem like he is being compensated twice, but again the rules seem to allow it.

[lindapalmara]

Mikey replied to the major expenses scandal (even in 2009 nobody had to pay that much back) he answers with a mention of tax evasion. Does he know that the Labour Headquarters are owned by an offshore company? Gromit. If he hasn't done anything wrong, why did he immediately offer to pay it back. David Chater went to jail for less. Swampy didn't have a second home. Lock him up!!!!

[Gromit]

Linda,
You and the Mail are confusing two different Lords allowances.

The Overnight Allowance (which he didn’t claim for) is intended to be used for hotel accommodation.
He claimed the Lords Office Holders Allowance and there is no stipulation that the money is used for a second home or hotel, just that they live outside London. He was entitled to this allowance.

// Lords Office Holders are also entitled to claim the Lords Office Holders Allowance of £36,366 if their main home is outside London; if their main home is in London they may claim the allowance at the reduced rate of £3,760. //

Living outside Greater London, he was also entitled to his travel expenses.

// Members who live outside Greater London can recover travel expenses for certain journeys between a registered residential address and Westminster. Members can recover the cost of fares incurred by them for travel by rail, sea, air, bus, or (subject to the limits set out below) the costs of travel by private car, motorcycle or bicycle. Certain road tolls, parking and taxi fares can also be recovered. //

Even though he is entitled to them, claiming both allowances is a bit unethical. There appears to be a loophole whereby Lords are being compensated twice, which may be why he is paying back the (lesser) amount.

[dannyk13]

Gromit, so claiming for a non-existent house is within the rules?

[Tilly2]

I think it's a despicable thing to do. What a cheat!

[cassa333]

MPs and Lords of all persuasions fiddle the books. Mostly I think because they can.

However the issue of massaging the books to get more or better expenses has been an issue for some time now so they should all have rained themselves in and there should be no new scandal.

If there is found to be fiddling etc then that should be either a criminal offence or they are stripped of the office they hold.

There is now NO excuse for not knowing.

[youngmafbog]

Oh well if Gromit says it's ok it must be ok.

I wonder if they can claim for 2nd third or even fourth non existen homes?

[ABerrant]

Gromit - "He claimed the Lords Office Holders Allowance and there is no stipulation that the money is used for a second home or hotel, just that they live outside London."

The Lords Office-holders Allowance Order 1991 (amended in 2010 & derived from the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991) stipulates the allowance only exists "in respect of his expenses in staying overnight away from his main or only residence."

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/5/section/5
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1991/772/article/2/made
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2471/contents/made

"There appears to be a loophole whereby Lords are being compensated twice"

There is no loophole - it is an allowance to compensate for accommodation away from the main residence; there is no provision to use said allowance for travel in lieu of accommodation for, as we know, a separate travel allowance exists for that very purpose.

[Gromit]

aberrant

The ‘Overnight Allowance’ and the ‘Lords Office Holders Allowance’ (LOHA), are different ‘benefits’.
From what I read, it looks like he was entitled to LOAH and Travel expenses. Though LOHA was probably meant to override any travel expense claim, so the fact he was doing both eas taking the pizz (but entirely legal under the rules).

[ABerrant]

The only "Overnight Allowance" (as you put it) is the LOHA. Its sole purpose is to pay for housing expenses away from the main residence.

I reiterate from the LOHA legislation - "the allowance payable... in respect of his expenses in staying overnight away from his main or only residence."

[tonyav]

Should have the book thrown at him ( from a very short distance ) and have to pay every penny back imo, doubt very much that it will happen though.

[douglas9401]

You know a man in a transit sized van who'll do that tony, doncha.

[tonyav]

Only if the book is thrown over the fence.

[Gromit]

ABerrant
// The only "Overnight Allowance" (as you put it) is the LOHA. //

No it isn’t.
Any Lord can claim a ‘Overnight Allowance’, if say there is a late night vote and they cannot get home, and have to buy a hotel room.
The ‘LOHA’ is just for Lords with an office (ie, with a function rather than voting fodder) who do not live in London.

[ABerrant]

Yes it is.

There is no Overnight Allowance for official business at Westminster since the system was revamped in 2010.

If non-salaried Lords need to pay for an overnight stay it must come from the £300 Daily Attendance Allowance (or the £150 reduced allowance if applicable).

Salaried Lords cannot claim Attendance Allowance and their overnight expenses for Westminster business is explicitly covered by LOHA.

http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/about-lords/lords-allowances/


There is accommodation and subsistence expense cover for Parliamentary business away from Westminster

e.g. Brussels, Scottish Parliament, Devolved Assemblies, etc.;

in connection with the Lords Outreach Programme;

or as part of an official delegation to
i) the Council of Europe,
ii) NATO
iii) Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe