Commuting MPs' home claims cut

MPs living outside London, but within a "reasonable" commuting distance of Westminster could lose their second homes allowance under Sir Christopher Kelly's expenses proposals.

Twenty five Inner London MPs were already barred from claiming the allowance.

From April 2010, another 54 MPs from constituencies wholly within 20 miles of Westminster will be added to the list - becoming eligible only for the London costs allowance.

KELLY REPORT

Committee on Standards in Public Life: MPs' expenses and allowances [976 KB]

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Sir Christopher Kelly's report on MPs' expenses suggests MPs from a further 12 constituencies which can be reached by both car and train within 60 minutes should also be denied the second homes claim.

"Constituencies such as Dartford and Sevenoaks are not significantly harder to reach than some outer London constituencies," he said in his report.

"A journey from Westminster to Dagenham East station, or Sevenoaks station by public transport, for example, departing Westminster at 22:30 would take approximately 45 minutes."

He does however suggest the rule would "need to be applied pragmatically" and suggests the independent regulator draw up a definitive list.

Last year, 40 MPs from the 66 constituencies identified claimed for a second home allowance, only one of the 12 MPs outside the 20 mile zone did not - Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor.

Claims by MPs in areas affected by proposals
Outside 20 mile zone, within 60 minutes' travel	MPs	Second home allowance claim 2007-2008
Broxbourne	Charles Walker CON	£10,358
Dartford	Howard Stoate LAB	£17,883
Epping Forest	Eleanor Laing CON	£23,082
Maidenhead	Theresa May CON	£4,288
Mole Valley	Paul Beresfield CON	£3,521
Reigate	Crispin Blunt CON	£23,083
Runnymede	Philip Hammond CON	£23,075
Sevenoaks	Michael Fallon CON	£22,853
Slough	Fiona Mactaggart LAB	£3,392
St Albans	Anne Main CON	£22,091
Welwyn Hatfield	Grant Shapps CON	£7,269
Windsor	Adam Afriyie CON	£0

Within 20 miles of Westminster	MPs	Second home allowance claim 2007-2008
Barking	Margaret Hodge LAB	£0
Beckenham	Jacqui Lait CON	£15,478
Bexleyheath	David Evennett CON	£0
Brentford and Isleworth	Ann Keen	£19,855
Brent East	Sarah Teather LD	£0
Brent North	Barry Gardiner LAB	£15,079
Brent South	Dawn Butler LAB	£23,083
Bromley	Bob Neill CON	£19,108
Carshalton	Tom Brake LD	£0
Chingford	Iain Duncan Smith CON	£0
Chipping Barnet	Theresa Villiers CON	£18,181
Croydon Central	Andrew Pelling IND CON	£0
Croydon North	Malcolm Wicks LAB	£0
Croydon South	Richard Ottaway CON	£21,481
Dagenham	Jon Cruddas LAB	£23,071
Ealing Acton	Andrew Slaughter LAB	£0
Ealing North	Stephen Pound LAB	£0
Ealing Southall	Virendra Sharma LAB	£0
East Ham	Stephen Timms LAB	£0
Edmonton	Andy Love LAB	£23,083
Enfield North	Joan Ryan LAB	£21,658
Enfield S'Gate	David Burrowes CON	£0
Epsom and Ewell	Chris Grayling CON	£15,332
Erith Thamesmead	John Austin LAB	£23,083
Esher and Walton	Ian Taylor CON	£23,083
Feltham and Heston	Alan Keen LAB	£19,855
Finchley and Golders Green	Rudi Vis LAB	£23,083
Harrow East	Tony McNulty LAB	£12,600
Harrow West	Gareth Thomas LAB	£11,748
Hayes and Harlington	John McDonnell LAB	£0
Hendon	Andrew Dismore LAB	£3,815
Hertsmere	James Clappison CON	£15,916
Hornchurch	James Brokenshire CON	£368
Hornsey	Lynne Featherstone LD	£0
Ifford North	Lee Scott CON	£0
Ilford South	Mike Gapes LAB	£22,291
Kingston	Edward Davey LD	£0
Leyton	Harry Cohen LAB	£23,083
Mitcham and Morden	Siobhain McDonagh LAB	£0
Old Bexley	Derek Conway IND CON	£23,033
Orpington	John Horam CON	£11,452
Richmond Park	Susan Kramer LD	£0
Romford	Andrew Rosindell CON	£23,083
Ruislip	Nick Hurd CON	£0
Spelthorne	David Wilshire CON	£23,083
Sutton and Cheam	Paul Burstow LD	£0
Tottenham	David Lammy LAB	£0
Twickenham	Vincent Cable LD	£0
Upminster	Angela Watkinson CON	£21,234
Uxbridge	John Randall CON	£0
Walthamstow	Neil Gerrard LAB	£0
Watford	Claire Ward LAB	£23,083
West Ham	Lyn Brown LAB	£15,889
Wimbledon	Stephen Hammond CON	£0