Sheffield MP's Expenses Claims, Abuses, Facts and Figures
Local / Sheffield May 16, 2009 - 10:49 PM GMTBy: Nadeem_Walayat
Updated - 24th May 2009 - The Telegraph's day by day drip, drip release of MP expenses continues to claim scalps in response to outrageous claims which mainly centre around the flipping second residencies for the payment of mortgages and to enable multiple properties to be renovated and furnished at tax payers expense has angered voters that are especially seeking to punish Labour MP's (Polling 20% record low) who for decades had rammed down the throats of voters how they had socialist ideals, whilst their actual action's increasingly paint an opposite picture.
If MP's were ever in any doubt as to the outrage in public opinion then the recent BBC Question Time programme held in Grimsby 'should' have made it crystal clear as the following exchange between the audience and Margaret Beckett illustrates (after the MP attempted to justify the £72,000 that she claimed in expenses) :
" I am just very Angry Mr Dimbleby,"
"Mrs Becket are you going to pay back the £72,000 that you have taken after your mealy-mouthed answer trying to explain yourself, and Mr Campbell how the hell do you get through £800 a month on food?"
"No I'm Not, because as I pointed out a moment ago...."
The audience boo's, jeers and heckles Margaret Beckett's mealy-mouthed excuses.
The full programme is available now to watch on BBC Iplayer.
With serious voter discontent, MP's are starting to scramble over one another to either repay monies, or publish their own expenses before the Telegraph names and shames them. Meanwhile the five Labour Sheffield MP's fearful of voter backlash issued a joint statement that "in the interests of transparency" would soon publish details of their own claims. However summary headings of expenditure cannot substitute for details recorded on the actual receipts themselves which may paint a totally different picture.
The following tables show the total amount claimed in expenses by all 6 local Sheffield MP's, which I will seek to update as and when the Telegraph publicises any details on the second home expenses category which probably exist given the extent of the value of total claims as listed below:
Nick Clegg - Lib Dem - Hallam Consistency
| Total Expenses Claim 2007-08 | £149,020 |
| 2nd Home Expenses | £23,083 |
| Office, Staffing, Stationary and Comms | £118,851 |
| Travel | £7,092 |
| Telegraph Scoop Expenses Details | |
| Claimed Stamp duty and legal costs on constituency home purchase | £9,244 |
| Furnishings and fittings | £8,300 |
At the last Election Nick Clegg won 51% of the vote (20,710), with Conservatives second on 30% (12,028) and Labour third on 13% (5,110), therefore Nick Clegg has a majority of 8,642 with most recent polling data suggesting that he is not under any serious risk of losing this safe Lib Dem seat at a general election.
Clive Betts - Labour - Attercliffe Consistency
| Total Expenses Claim 2007-08 | £163,255 |
| 2nd Home Expenses | £23,083 |
| Office, Staffing, Stationary and Comms | £128,125 |
| Travel | £12,049 |
| Self Publicised Expenses | |
| Carpets | £1,268 |
| Two Sofa's | £1,500 |
| Wardrobe | £700 |
| Bed for Bad back | £1,100 |
| LCD TV | £700 |
| Mortgage Interest on London Flat over 3 years | £36,000 |
| Leather Arm chair | £800 |
Links to Actual Claims made including receipts
|
|
| Telegraph Expenses Analysis - Pending | |
At the last General Election Clive Betts won 60.1% of the vote (22,250), with Lib Dems second on 17% (6,283) and Conservatives third on 14% (5,239), therefore Clive Betts has a strong majority of 15,967 in a Labour heartland seat and therefore does not appear to be under any serious risk despite the extremely poor opinion polls of losing his seat at a general election.
An analysis of how the expenses abuse came about puts Clive Betts right at the heart of the matter when back in 2001 he tabled an amendment on the additional costs allowance to increase MP expenses from the then £10,000 for mortgage interest which subsequently now covers everything under the sun. The amendment was passed overwhelmingly with backbenchers over riding their front bench advice. Read Clive Betts 2001 speech, Also see which MP's voted for the expenses gravy train.
Angela Smith - Labour - Hillsborough Consistency
| Total Expenses Claim 2007-08 | £150,240 |
| 2nd Home Expenses | £22,843 |
| Office, Staffing, Stationary and Comms | £128,125 |
| Travel | £10,904 |
| Self Publicised Receipts Analysis | |
| Sofa Bed | £950 |
| Dining Table and Chairs | £635 |
| Rug | £350 |
| Food - Per month | £133 |
| Mortgage Interest per month | £1269 |
| Furnishings | £1,500 |
| Stamp Duty | £4,496 |
Link to Self publicised Expenses record including receipts |
|
| Telegraph Expenses Analysis | |
| Claimed for 4 beds for a 1 bedroom flat, and furnishings | £7,800 |
| Two digital cameras | £635 |
| Office Supplies over 3 years | £54,000 |
Angela Smith was elected to parliament at the last General Election with 51.2% of the vote (23,477), with Lib Dems second on 27% (12,234) and Conservatives third on 15% (6,890). Given the lack of swing in the polls to the Lib Dems, this suggests that Angela Smith's strong majority of 11,243 in a Labour heartland seat does not appear to be under any risk of losing her seat.
David Blunkett - Labour - Brightside Consistency
| Total Expenses Claim 2007-08 | £147,572 |
| 2nd Home Expenses | £23,083 |
| Office, Staffing, Stationary and Comms | £121,434 |
| Travel | £3,055 |
| Telegraph Scoop Expenses Details - Pending |
Richard Caborn - Labour - Central Consistency
| Total Expenses Claim 2007-08 | £157,059 |
| 2nd Home Expenses | £21,755 |
| Office, Staffing, Stationary and Comms | £119,238 |
| Travel | £16,066 |
| Telegraph Scoop Expenses - Pending |
Meg Munn - Labour - Heeley Consistency
| Total Expenses Claim 2007-08 | £144,354 |
| 2nd Home Expenses | £23,083 |
| Office, Staffing, Stationary and Comms | £110,042 |
| Travel | £11,233 |
| Telegraph Scoop Expenses - Pending |
The most recent poll for the Mail on Sunday puts Labour on just 20%, Conservatives on 42%, Lib Dems at 15%, this would result in a landslide Conservative general election victory of over 200 seats. The situation for Labour is even worse for the European Elections with UKIP level with Labour at 17%, Conservative 30%, Lib Dem 15%.
Current Yorkshire & Humberside MEP's
-
Linda McAvan (Labour)
-
Timothy Kirkhope (Conservative)
-
Diana Wallis (Liberal Democrat)
-
Godfrey Bloom (United Kingdom Independence Party)
-
Richard Corbett (Labour)
-
Edward McMillan-Scott (Conservative)
Results of Last European Election 2004 - 1573201 votes, (approx 43% of the total number of eligible voters) :
- Labour 26.3%
- Conservative 24.6%
- Lib Dem 15.6%
- UKIP 14.5%
- BNP 8%
- Green 5.7%
European Election Forecast
The European voting system suggests the following results on the basis of the most recent opinion poll.
- Conservative 2-3 seats
- Labour 1 Seat
- Lib Dem 1 Seat
- UKIP 1 Seat
- BNP 0-1
By Nadeem Walayat
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk
Copyright © 2005-09 Marketoracle.co.uk (Market Oracle Ltd). All rights reserved.
Nadeem Walayat has over 20 years experience of trading derivatives, portfolio management and analysing the financial markets, including one of few who both anticipated and Beat the 1987 Crash. Nadeem's forward looking analysis specialises on the housing market and interest rates. Nadeem is the Editor of The Market Oracle, a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. We present in-depth analysis from over 250 experienced analysts on a range of views of the probable direction of the financial markets. Thus enabling our readers to arrive at an informed opinion on future market direction. http://www.marketoracle.co.uk
Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any trading losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors before engaging in any trading activities.
Nadeem Walayat Archive |
© 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.
