SF 'can claim London expenses'

Gerry Adams is one of five Sinn Fein MPs

Sinn Fein MPs should still be allowed to claim hotel expenses when in London, a review of MPs' expenses has recommended.

Sir Christopher Kelly's review committee was asked to overhaul the system after the expenses scandal.

Unionist parties had said Sinn Fein should get no allowances as the party does not take its Westminster seats.

But the committee said the party's MPs should be allowed to claim hotel expenses in future.

It also suggested that any MPs who attend Westminster "relatively infrequently" should not be allowed to claim expenses for permanent accommodation.

Sinn Fein MPs do not take a salary but have been entitled to allowances since a Commons vote in 2001.

'Particular circumstances'

They had been claiming expenses for the rent of two London properties but earlier this year said that the leases had expired and that in future they would only use hotels, a decision welcomed by Sir Christopher's committee.

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The committee noted that the decision to give Sinn Fein MPs the right to claim for the full range of expenses without taking up their seats in Parliament was "a political one, taken in the light of the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland."

It added that removing that right would also be a political decision but that it does not intend to express a view on whether it is right or wrong in principle.

'Double job'

Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy said the party had made submission to Sir Christopher's review and that his recommendations mirror the party's view in a number of areas.

"We support his call to end public money being used in mortgage interest payments for second homes, an end to the communications allowance, the ending of the employment of MPs family members and the phasing out of the dual mandate," he added.

The review has also recommended that MPs should not be allowed to "double job" as Stormont assembly members.

Sixteen out of Northern Ireland's 18 MP's currently serve as assembly members.

Sir Christopher's team concluded that these dual mandates should end by the next Assembly elections in May 2011.

'Wriggle room'

It also recommended that the employment of relatives by MPs should cease - something that would effect a number of DUP MPs including Peter and Iris Robinson, Ian Paisley and Jeffrey Donaldson.

This change would not have to take place until the end of the next Parliament.

The DUP MP Gregory Campbell said his party are committed to ending dual mandates but said they will not be able to meet the 2011 deadline preferred by Sir Christopher.

Sir Christopher said if the 2011 deadline was not met then double jobbing should end by 2015.

The SDLP MP Mark Durkan also welcomed the move on ending dual mandates but he criticised the timeframe set by Sir Christopher Kelly as too long, saying it allowed "too much wriggle room."