Hugh Robertson urges dramatic reform of system whilst publishing details of his own expenses

Hugh Robertson, the MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, has today provided the following breakdown of his expenses which are amongst the lowest of any MP in the country.

His published total was £123,820 of which £75,733 was spent on the salaries and national insurance of his three staff – one more than last year. The remaining £48,087 was spent as follows:-

a. £23,083 on renting a flat in London to use when Parliament is sitting. As the flat is rented, there is no financial gain to the MP.

b. £16,605 to rent and run his constituency office in Lenham.

c. £6,414 on travel of which £1,324 was incurred due to his Frontbench duties. The MP covers about 10,000 miles each year in between Kent and London and around his 150 square mile constituency.

d. £1,184 for computers and £801 for centrally purchased stationery.

Hugh Robertson said, “The constant torrent of sleaze stories is doing Parliament in general and MPs in particular considerable damage. I have always been in favour of complete transparency and all my receipts are available in the constituency office to any constituent who wishes to inspect them.

However, the current situation cannot continue. We must look at a wide ranging reform of the whole system which, in my opinion, would ideally involve reducing the number of MPs, ending the final salary pension scheme, employing staff centrally and the replacement of the second homes allowance with a simple subsistence allowance when you are away from your own home.

Parliament has stuck its head in sand for too long and needs to take urgent action.”