Monday night’s Dispatches programme covered how 32 of the 650 MPs were claiming expenses on flats in London, while renting out their own London flats.
Those vexed about this forward the following argument – as the MPs can’t claim mortgage payments on their own flats, some have decided to rent their own flats out, gaining rental income, while claiming expenses from Parliament to pay for another flat that they stay in. In effect still getting their own flat paid for, while staying in London at no expense to themselves.
It has subsequently emerged that some of the 32 MPs were renting these flats from fellow MPs.
Andrew Turner: “I have never met my landlady”
On The Wight contacted Andrew Turner to find out about his situation and was told the following.
“I rent a flat in London which is owned by Lady Hill who is the wife of a Minister in the House of Lords. When I agreed to rent the flat I did not know who owned it – I simply looked at what was available through local rental agents.
“I have never met my landlady. I worked at the Conservative Research Department at the same time as her husband around thirty years ago. I have probably met him a couple of times since then, but don’t recall any specific occasions. He has never been a Member of Parliament.
“I was asked if I rented a flat from an MP; the answer was no. At that time IPSA were taking legal advice on whether to disclose the names of MPs’ landlords under the Freedom of Information Act. Both MPs and their landlords could ask IPSA to consider keeping the information private. I made no such request; I have no idea whether my landlady did.”
Not renting to another MP
We asked Andrew if he was renting his own flat to a fellow MP – he replied no.
