n Disappointed: Billericay MP John Baron who paid back £8,821 in expenses
BILLERICAY MP John Baron has slammed a review of second home allowances that recommended he should pay back more than £8,000.
Mr Baron said that the expenses system lacked transparency and was often confusing.
In his review of MP’s second home allowances, Sir Thomas Legg questioned Mr Baron’s extension of his mortgage in June 2004 by £34,035.
He suggested John should repay £8,821.10 – this representing the added mortgage interest costs since then.
Mr Baron said: “I’m disappointed by the result and saddened by it all but we have to move on.
“People who know me know I have not financially benefited from this but I thought the best thing to do was to pay up and move on.”
Mr Baron appealed against the decision to Sir Paul Kennedy, who has been employed to hear MP’s expenses appeals, but this was turned down.
Mr Baron appealed because guidance stated members should seek advice and the arrangement came about as a result of that advice, because of the retrospective changes to the arrangement and because he didn’t financially benefit.
The arrangement with the Parliamentary Fees Office was that he increased his original mortgage in order to personally fund many expenses and allowances to which he was entitled to claim without receipts.
For example, in eight years as the MP John has never claimed the £250 unreceipted monthly petty cash allowance available to MPs to cover their incidental costs, despite his costs often exceeding this figure.
Increases in mortgages were allowable where the increased loan was obtained for the improvement of property.
However, because John didn’t use it to renovate or extend his house – which would have increased its value – it has not been allowed.
The process is covered by Parliamentary privilege, which means it cannot be challenged legally. Mr Baron has therefore repaid the money.