Andrew Jones, Tory MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has been found in breach of the IPSA Code – specifically the rules which prohibit MPs from undertaking surveys to support campaign activity. A complaint was submitted by a constituent in December regarding Jones collecting voting intention data from his website under the guise of a ‘Health Survey’ for around six months. Though Jones wasn’t going down without a fight…
Jones published a spicy letter to Ed Davey in which he named and accused the complainant – who he incorrectly referred to as a “Lib Dem activist” – of making “false allegations”. The constituent is now threatening to sue Jones for defamation. While Jones wasn’t found to be in breach of Staffing and Business Costs, IPSA has given him a slap on the wrist for his website activity, ordering him to cease the survey immediately. It’s not the first time Mr Jones has been found breaking the rules…
Parliamentary watchdog Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has just announced its pay decision for MPs in the coming year. MPs will get a 5.5% pay rise of £4,762, coming into effect from next month. That takes their annual pay from £86,584 to £91,346. Breaching the £90,000 barrier…
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has confirmed new lax rules on travel expenses due to security concerns following incidents where the offices of MPs who did not support a ceasefire in last week’s vote were targeted last week. In a letter to all MPs, Hoyle said the independent expenses body, IPSA, will not disclose the details of new taxi journeys due to “security implications.” Not having to disclose taxpayer-funded taxi trips will certainly encourage MPs to jump in a cab more often…
Hoyle also pledged ramped up Met Police security outside Parliament, with a new focus on exits and entries. Might be trickier for co-conspirators to find an Uber in Westminster from now on…
Read his full letter below:
Parliamentary watchdog Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) are more than doubling the taxpayer cash losing MPs will receive at the next general election, going from £8,600 to £17,300. IPSA say this is to ensure the payouts were “fair and provide the appropriate support to MPs and their offices when leaving Parliament”. The 71 MPs who have already decided to stand down are set to rake in around £615,000 between them…
Taxpayers’ Alliance Chief Executive John O’Connell said:
“Doubling golden goodbyes for MPs is a kick in the teeth for taxpayers. Hard-pressed Britons are already funding generous salaries, perks and pensions for elected officials. Ipsa should be mindful of that when recommending more taxpayers’ money for politicians.”
The Telegraph points out that if the Tories suffer a 100-seat wipeout, the taxpayer would fork out an additional £1 million under the new rules. Maybe Rishi’s best bet is to make it a campaign talking point: each Labour gain will cost the taxpayer thousands…
Four Members of Parliament expensed the taxpayer for a collective £720 to cover their own driving fines. The Independent yesterday reported that Energy Minister Amanda Solloway, Simon Hoare, Bim Afolami and SNP MP Dave Doogan all claimed tickets on expenses. Sollaway’s bill came to £80 while both Doogan and Folami expensed £160. Simon Hoare was the worst offender, with his four bills costing a total of £320…
Obviously, MPs shouldn’t be able to claim expenses for their speeding fines – as IPSA spelt out against Suella Braverman’s best wishes. In response to the story, IPSA admitted they had made a mistake, and said they would reiterate the rules to the MPs. Once again, the expenses watchdog is giving our elected officials a free ride…
UPDATE: A Tory source has been in touch to say Amanda Solloway and Bim Afolami’s fines were related to the congestion charge, rather than speeding.
UPDATE II: Simon Hoare’s expenses were also related to the congestion charge.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) have found “overwhelming evidence” that Labour MP Liam Byrne used parliamentary expenses to support his failed West Midlands mayoral campaign. It turns out one of his staff worked on his 2021 campaign while still contracted and paid by Parliament.
Despite working on the campaign for around 1,000 taxpayer-funded hours, IPSA have ruled Byrne will not have to repay the costs:
“Following the investigation, the Compliance Officer found that Mr Byrne did allow a staff member to work on his Mayoral Campaign during times the staff member was being paid by IPSA to conduct parliamentary work. A repayment direction has not been made and there is no requirement for the MP to reimburse IPSA in part for the staff member’s salary.”
Throughout that campaign, Guido repeatedly questioned Byrne’s use of expenses, raising questions over whether any had been diverted towards his election costs rather than his parliamentary duties. In 2021, Guido brought to light that Bryne’s constituency assistant was describing his primary role on Linkedin as “managing” Liam’s “campaigns”; and his former parliamentary “head of research” professed to having “developed local policy” for his West Midlands mayoral campaign. Guido was right, despite Byrne’s previous denials that he was fiddling his expenses.
Assuming the staffer was paid around £15 per hour, that’s £15,000 of taxpayers’ cash plus the rent that taxpayer paid to fund his campaign HQ. The man who said there was “no money left” owes taxpayers a lot of money…
