British MP's 2005 Expenses

In October 2005, it was revelaed that British Members of Parliament claimed a record-breaking £81 million in expenses last year, up by 3.8 per cent from 2004. 

The amount spent by MPs on travel, accommodation, staff and office costs, computers, stationery and postage, had increased by more than £23 million in three years. During 2005 each MP’s allowances, on average, cost the British taxpayer £122,677.

The total spend was up £2,799,316 on the previous year, according to the documents released under freedom of information legislation.

Prime Minister Tony Blair claimed a total of £93,996

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown claimed £137,328.

Conservative Party leader Michael Howard claimed £133,526, while the two contenders to succeed him, David Cameron and David Davis, received £123,454 and £126,685 respectively. 

The allowances of Charles Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat leader totalled £135,457.

It is only the second time the allowances have been published. MPs ordered them to be released for the first time in 2004, even though the relevant clauses in the Freedom of Information Act had not yet come into effect.

TOP FIVE CLAIM AMOUNTS



 * Geraint Jones - £176,026
 * Margaret Moran - 168,569
 * Angus Robertson - £160,776
 * Ashok Kumar - £158,844
 * Peter Duncan - £158,032

Related Links

 * "MPs' expenses claims now average £122,000," The Times, Thursday, 27 October 2005
 * "MPs' expenses claims exceed £80m," BBC, Thursday, 27 October 2005.
 * "MPs reveal £80m expenses bill," The Guardian, Thursday, 27 October 2005.
 * "High price of Scots MPs' expenses," BBC, Friday, 28 October 2005.