Newcastle East Labour MP claims for £3500 home boiler on expenses but votes against fuel poverty bill
June 18, 2009 12:00 AM
Newcastle East Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Greg Stone has questioned the priorities of Labour MP Nick Brown, following publication of the full MP expense list.
Mr Brown's expenses include regular unreceipted claims for £400 a month for food for his Newcastle home, even when parliament is not sitting, together with up to £480 a month for unspecified and unreceipted claims for repairs, maintenance, and security.
However, it has also emerged that Mr Brown claimed £3500 for a new boiler for his home off Benton Park Road, in addition to his repairs and utility bills claims, yet was the only MP to vote against the recent cross-party private members Fuel Poverty Bill.
Reacting to the news, Greg Stone said "It is bad enough that Nick Brown voted to shoot down the widely supported Fuel Poverty Bill, which would have given local authorities more powers to address fuel poverty and would have required utility companies to do more to end the inequity of expensive pre-pay meters. However his record is even more hypocritical when it is considered that he not only claimed home utility bills on expenses but also charged a new boiler to the taxpayer."
"There are hundreds if not thousands of people in Newcastle East who are struggling with rising fuel bills who do not have the luxury of being able to afford a new boiler, let alone claim it on the state. They will rightly be questioning their MP's priorities."
"For the avoidance of any doubt I can confirm that if I am elected, I will only claim for essential second home costs associated with staying in London, and will not claim for any costs associated with my Newcastle home."
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