Time for MPs to act on expenses, says McAvoy

Jun 24 2009 by Douglas Dickie, Rutherglen Reformer

TOMMY McAVOY MP has admitted the public are heartily sick of politicians after the scandal of their huge expenses rip-offs.

Mr McAvoy was speaking in the wake of another weekend of revelations from Westminster following the publication of MPs’ expenses.

The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP has also been involved in the latest revelations... with one Sunday newspaper highlighting that he uses his home as an office and is able to claim for expenses on associated expenses.

He has also said that MPs are allowed to hire accountants to help with their tax returns, as allowances make up part of their tax return.

Speaking about the wider implications of the expenses row, Mr McAvoy said a number of measures had already been taken to improve public confidence.

He said: “I believe that the public are getting tired of politicians talking about the need for action, but instead want politicians to take action.

“A number of interim reforms have already been introduced, some of which have been recommended by the Committee, of which I am a member.

“The immediate creation of a Parliamentary Standards Authority to regulate the system of allowances is being introduced to Parliament this week.

“Sir Christopher Kelly the Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life is reviewing, and will make recommendations on the system which should come into force for the long term.”

Mr McAvoy had already sought to explain the use of his home as an office after a story appeared on Sunday, and claimed it was not a rare occurrence.

He also argued that expenses advice on his tax return was acceptable in the Green Book, the parliamentary publication which advises on what can be claimed.

However, Mr McAvoy added that MPs still had to pay tax from their own pockets for this.

He also said claiming for additional costs for using home for office business was also clearly allowed in the Green Book.

He said: “I have had an office in my home since I was elected in 1987. For nearly 15 years this enabled me to carry out my work as MP. Subsequently I opened a constituency office which recognised the increased workload MPs had to deal with.

“The revised Green Book sets out the rules on home offices. The fact that this is included in the Green Book indicates that there is a large number of MPs who have an office in their home.

“Almost every MP I know personally has a similar arrangement. I have referred to the fact that I have a home office on my website.

“With regard to the tax return, I have made a point of paying an accountant to advise on preparing my tax return because parliamentary allowances are part of my tax return.

“It is recognised that MPs need financial assistance to hire an accountant and is allowed.

“However, tax has to be paid on this, and, as I state on my website, I confirm that accountancy fees have not been claimed as an allowable expense against my taxable earnings.

“I paid over £514 income tax out of my earnings as a result of this.”

The under-fire MP recently opened his accounts to the Reformer and published them on his website before the official publication.