5:03pm Friday 26th June 2009
By Simon Carr
A HAMPSHIRE MP who owns seven properties in the UK hit taxpayers with a bill of more than £3,000 to pay for a cleaner and gardener at his second home, the Daily Echo can reveal.
Despite owning the property outright he has charged the taxpayer thousands claiming back council tax, utility bills, TV licences, phone calls and maintenance work.
Between 2005/6 and 2007/8 the former city economist claims include a cleaner costing £1,890.57 and a gardener taking £1,250.34.
He also put it one claim for food worth £1,296 but as no receipts were attached it is impossible to know what tasty treats were included.
Mr Huhne, who earns £64,766 as an MP, came under fire last month when this paper reported he had spent £119 on a Corby trouser press from John Lewis and had been claiming for the upkeep of his pergola cross beam which he downgraded to a plant trestle when quizzed by the Daily Echo.
Repair work over this period has come to £5,857.14.
Mr Huhne later paid back the money and was one of the few MPs who voluntarily published his expenses on his own website.
The 54-year-old, father-of-four, said: “My second home allowances are the lowest in Hampshire and one of the lowest in the country.
“I paid back the money for my trouser press because I did not want people to think I had gone into this job for the money, I did not want any controversy.
“This is the biggest scandal to hit Westminster in more than 100 years. It will be years before the public regain their trust in politicians and this will depend on the vigour with which those who have abused the system are treated.
“I think it is infinitely better that this is all out in the open for the public to see for themselves.”
Mr Huhne’s largest additional cost allowance (ACA) was a claim of £5,129.56. The mostly blanked out claim form simply states it is for “various works.”
The handyman was also called in to change a screw on the balcony, make up a bedside table and replace a rope on a swinging chair.
Since being elected in May 2005, Mr Huhne’s ACA has totalled £18,638 and his incidental expenses provision for running his office came to £62,640.
This includes more than £7 a month on exotic coffees and £5.99 on a Claude Monet Notecard.
While he has been slammed for splashing out on fluffy dusters and chocolate HobNobs he draws the line at jam doughnuts which were crossed off a Tesco receipt.
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