View From The House: Second home is crucial

Jun 10 2009 David Wilshire, MP for Spelthorne

THE recent coverage given to my expenses claims leave me little choice but to comment. I am saddened and embarrased by what has happened nationally and locally. The British public are rightly very angry.

Deciding and auditing MPs' pay and expenses must be handed over to an independent body whose decisions are final.

Some of what has been written nationally and locally is accurate,some is partly right and some is incorrect. So let me stick to facts.

In 2007/08 my claims were not the sixth largest. Overall I was ranked 91st and my travel expenses ranked 342nd.

Of course I would commute if I worked nine to five. Until the recent changes to MPs' working hours, getting back to my flat a few hundred yards from Parliament by 10pm was an early night. Midnight was a normal night and 2am a late one.

Now I usually get back about 10.30pm and I continue to have meetings before 8.30am. Commuting would leave about five hours for sleep.

My second home claims were as recommended by the House of Commons authorities. I bought my current flat in 2003, paid the legal costs and Stamp Duty and spent about £15,000 of my own money on decorating, furnishing etc.

It will be liable to Capital Gains Tax. Over the period of the claims I paid more than £7,000 of the mortgage interest myself.

This column's 250-word limit prevents me addressing every concern. Any reader wanting to know is very welcome to write to, phone or e-mail me.

Additionally I am very willing to meet anyone who would like a one-to-one meeting.

Alternatively, everyone will shortly be able to look up the full details for every MP on the internet.