After VB ran Flat Broke’s article yesterday regarding the Island MP’s move to rented accommodation, Andrew Turner’s office have been in touch with this statement. Ed
We bought our home in Newport when Carole moved to the Island permanently and she and our two dogs came to live here full-time.
The flat in Cowes (which is mortgaged) was no longer suitable and expensive structural work was needed on the building. Carole and I put equity from properties we each owned when we first met over 20 years ago, into buying our home in Newport but it also still has a mortgage.
No longer claiming mortgage costs
During the election campaign this year many people made it clear they thought it was wrong to claim expenses relating to any property I own, whether in London or the Isle of Wight.
So although I could have continued to claim mortgage and other costs for two more years under transitional arrangements I gave a commitment that I would move across to the new expenses scheme as soon as possible and I have done that.
In the current economic climate it would have been difficult to sell the property in London and after it had been empty for a number of months it is now rented out. That property is also mortgaged and there are significant other costs – for example the service and management charges are almost £1,700 this year and my share of the external redecoration of the building is over £1,800.
Approved by Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
The only property on which any parliamentary expenses are claimed is the rented London flat which I stay in during the week – the tenancy agreement, rent and service charges were all agreed and approved by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (as required by their rules) before I moved in.
