Brighton MPs claim £25,000 second home expenses

Two Brighton MPs claimed £25,000 towards the cost of their second homes in just over a year, according to the latest expenses to be published by Parliament.
Hove MP Celia Barlow claimed nothing.
The claims were made under the new “personal additional accommodation expenditure” regime in April, May and June – the first three months of the current financial year. Claims were also made under the discredited “additional costs allowance” rules during the 2008-09 financial year. The rules were widely regarded as having been abused, with MPs claiming for a duck house and to have a moat cleared.
The latest unusual claim was for a bell tower. It was later withdrawn, having been included with a bill for roof repairs submitted by the Defence Minister Quentin Davies, the Labour MP for Grantham and Stamford.
Locally, Des Turner, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, claimed £14,500, including more than £2,000 to have the kitchen refitted at his second home in Southwark. He also claimed £3,500 for food.
His claims for additional costs allowance can be read here. His claims for personal additional accommodation expenditure can be read here.
David Lepper, the Labour MP for Brighton Pavilion, claimed more than £11,000 for his second home in Lambeth.
His claims for additional costs allowance can be read here. His claims for personal additional accommodation expenditure can be read here.
The bulk of the claims related to Dr Turner’s mortgage and Mr Lepper’s rent. Both MPs have said that they will stand down at the coming election.
Celia Barlow, also a Labour MP, commuted during the period in question.
The totals claimed by MPs for neighbouring constituencies included £22,000 for Tim Loughton the Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, £22,000 for Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes and almost £21,000 for Nicholas Soames, the Conservative MP for Mid Sussex.
Lord Bassam of Brighton – aka Steve Bassam, the former leader of Brighton Council – claimed £14 for postage and £5,456 for secretarial expenses in his capacity as a government minister.