Sinn Fein reveals MP allowances

Martin McGuinness is one of five Sinn Fein MPs

Sinn Fein has published the amount of money its MPs claim for staff, travel, administration and accommodation.

The party said it did not claim its £50,000 a year communications allowance, nor any overnight or food allowances.

Staff subsidies, worth up to £100,205 a year per MP, are claimed by the party. An accommodation allowance worth a total £108,000 a year is also claimed.

The party also claimed for two TVs, a bed settee and £485 for blinds.

A Sinn Fein statement said the items were claimed for in May 2004 when the party took up rental leases for two properties.

A townhouse is shared by Conor Murphy, Martin McGuinness and Michelle Gildernew, and an apartment is used by Pat Doherty and Gerry Adams.

The statement said each MP has claimed £21,600 each year for the properties.

"This covers the rent and services," said the statement.

"We do not draw down the full allowance which is currently £24,222 per annum. We do not own these properties and the rental payment is an all inclusive service and rental contract.

"It covers rent, gas, electricity, water, council taxes, waste, furnishings, cleaning, laundry and insurance. These leases have been approved by Westminster."

Party president Gerry Adams called on all parties to publish full accounts of MP salaries and allowances.

"There is anger at the systematic ripping off of tax payer's money from those elected to high office and anger at the complete lack of transparency and accountability," he said.

Mr Adams said the party MPs received £356 a week, the same wage as all other party workers.

"There is no personal or self-gain by Sinn Fein MPs in respect of monies or allowances paid by Westminster," he said.

The published accounts also show MPs claimed a total of £112,000 a year for the running of constituency offices, as well as several thousands of pounds in travel allowances.

"Sinn Fein MPs who became (Assembly) ministers stopped making claims for constituency travel allowances when ministerial cars were provided in 2007," said the statement.

It added that Sinn Fein MPs are "denied" salaries and policy development grants because of its abstentionist policy at Westminster.

"This means that our party has been denied £1,443,840 over the last five years."

It added that it does not get £100,000 a year in policy development grants.

The party said its financial statement for 2008 would be published in the summer.

Meanwhile, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson has published some of his claims, in line with new party guidelines.

The claims range from a camera memory card at £14.99 to House of Commons headed paper at £152.95.