Nothing here to be ashamed of (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Nothing here to be ashamed of
7:00am Tuesday 2nd June 2009 in Search
In response to your correspondent on May 27, I exercised a personal choice to rent a small functional flat.
Personally, I would not feel comfortable with aiming to spend the maximum allowance available or pocketing a capital gain when I leave Parliament.
The option to claim mortgage interest was, I understand, introduced during the Thatcher years. I had no idea that this privilege was being abused in the ways that have recently been revealed.
It is quite true that, despite the many occasions I have spoken in Parliament, I have not participated in a debate on expenses.
I am kept very busy with my work on children’s issues.
However, I was in the House on July 3 last year to support a whole range of reforms to expenses.
An amendment watering down these proposals was passed, supported by several Dorset Tory MPs.
Only two Dorset MPs, including me, voted against the amendment.
As the Daily Echo points out, on the ‘away from home’ allowance, I am the lowest claimant among Dorset MPs.
In 2007/8 I claimed £16,285. my current annual rent is £13, 700.
ANNETTE BROOKE MP, House of Commons, London
