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MP hits back at expenses report
10:10pm Wednesday 9th December 2009
SWINDON MP Michael Wills has lambasted press reports suggesting he wrongly claimed expenses for his wife’s travel costs.
Mr Wills, Labour MP for North Swindon, says he was misrepresented by The Daily Telegraph which claimed he had wrongly claimed for his wife’s car hire.
The minister vehemently denies the allegation, saying that the car hire claim was not only legitimate, it saved money.
“I am not facing questions over items purchased at taxpayers’ expense during the past financial year – not least because travel costs are not items purchased at taxpayers’ expense and these are legitimate travel costs.”
Mr Wills, who works at the Ministry of Justice, claimed more than £300 for the use of the hire car driven by his wife Jill. MPs can claim under travel allowance for up to 15 return journeys by their spouses a year.
In yesterday’s edition of the Telegraph it was claimed that Mr Wills admitted it was a mistake to claim the cost of his wife’s hire car on his office account. The paper said that Mr Wills later claimed that the cost of the trips would have been allowable under his travel allowance.
“This was so misleading as to verge on the untrue,” he said.
“I did not agree it was a mistake to claim this amount. It was a mistake to claim it under this header, which I did on the advice of the Fees office. It should have been claimed under the travel heading.
“I did not add that the costs ‘would have been’ allowable under my travel allowance. They are allowable under my travel allowance and they are being allowed under my travel allowance.”
Mr Wills said he and his wife chose to hire the car as it would be cheaper to do so than to take the train, lowering his expenses bill.
“The only reason my wife was hiring a Street Car to make journeys to and from the constituency was to save the taxpayer money,” he said.
“It is far cheaper – though more stressful for her – than claiming the train fares to which we are entitled.”
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Your Say YourWiltshire
itsamess, swindon says...
12:20am Thu 10 Dec 09
politicrat, swindon says...
9:25am Thu 10 Dec 09
This always been the case in the UK, this system of Parliementary Democracy didn't work 300 years ago and still doesn't work today!
why?
1- MPs once in office are no longer accountable to us but to their party
2- MPs are not from the populus but from an elite
3- One Parliement system is unbalanced, we need 2 chambers! Senate (Higher Chamber) + House of Commons
4- we need true Proportional representation (PR)
300 years ago Adam Smith wrote a Book "Wealth of Nations", what he described then about British Society is still true today! the result of this unbalanced Society and oppressive taxing system for the few, pushed Americans colonists to fight for indenpendance.
My question is: when are we going to fight for own own freedoms in this country from our oppressive current political elite?
Donkey, Swindon says...
10:08am Thu 10 Dec 09
About time The Telegraph began providing value for money in the cost of their publication, all this scum-digging when there is no case to answer is the lowest of the low in journalism and they know it. Why don't they do some research and write up a bit of NEWS, after all, they appear to break the Trades Description Act in some of the content the produce as it can hardly call itself a 'newspaper'! Talk about getting mileage out of something!
stfcphil, Swindon says...
10:40am Thu 10 Dec 09
Hypocrasy again anybody .....
Veggie, Swindon says...
11:43am Thu 10 Dec 09
politicrat, swindon says...
12:01pm Thu 10 Dec 09
Veggie wrote:You hang on a minute, this guy is a millionaire, and so why should we taxpayers pay for his wife taxi?
Hang on a minute be fair Michael only hired a car, which is nothing compared to other MP's who claim for £600 curtains, new sofa's etc, one MP claimed £22000 for building repairs on a house outside her constituancy!
How did he make his millions?
With Wealth comes social and moral responsabilities, something that we are quick to condemn the bankers for so why are you and we so bad at when it comes to multimillionaire politicians?
As far as I am aware the politicians have bankrupted our economy & country just as well as the bankers.
Veggie, Swindon says...
3:32pm Thu 10 Dec 09
politicrat wrote:good point! I just thought that in comparison to other MP's his claim was not so bad.
Veggie wrote: Hang on a minute be fair Michael only hired a car, which is nothing compared to other MP's who claim for £600 curtains, new sofa's etc, one MP claimed £22000 for building repairs on a house outside her constituancy!You hang on a minute, this guy is a millionaire, and so why should we taxpayers pay for his wife taxi? How did he make his millions? With Wealth comes social and moral responsabilities, something that we are quick to condemn the bankers for so why are you and we so bad at when it comes to multimillionaire politicians? As far as I am aware the politicians have bankrupted our economy & country just as well as the bankers.
Us tax payers are always worse off. I recently had to go to court against someone who sponges off the state due to being an ex offender - they got it all paid for i had to pay £4,500 ish!! nice!!
Bobfm, South Marston says...
5:45pm Thu 10 Dec 09
PK, Swindon says...
9:28pm Thu 10 Dec 09
This government, while lining it's own pockets handsomely has squeezed the pips until they squeaked. The pips are so dry now they've turned to dust.
This Nu Liebore government is a complete and utter disgrace.
And Donkey, why is it that you can't see what your beloved Liebore is? They are nothing but a bunch of corrupt, self-serving parasites who have systematically destroyed this country and lumbered generations to come - which includes your descendants - with massive debt.
I hope this government is kicked out of office next year and we NEVER see another Liebore government again.
Donkey, Swindon says...
10:10am Fri 11 Dec 09
No party in power could have forseen that international ****-up coming, we led the world in the City and every company wanted to be there ... why?
I certainly cannot see anything other than real hardship returning for so many people under what the Tories consider to be a prospectus for action ... they really do not provide an alternative ... in a nutshell, we have to suffer the consequences of the greedy few for years to come, but we will come through regardless, we're British!
politicrat, swindon says...
10:45am Fri 11 Dec 09
PK wrote:History will Judge Labour, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will not escape it.
Wills' expenses claim is over £18,000. More than some people have to live on for a year, yet, yesterday Wills' government slapped increased taxes on everything. VAT goes back up to 17.5% as of the 1st January, NI contributions are also to rise - and we haven't had the March budget yet. God help us all. This government, while lining it's own pockets handsomely has squeezed the pips until they squeaked. The pips are so dry now they've turned to dust. This Nu Liebore government is a complete and utter disgrace. And Donkey, why is it that you can't see what your beloved Liebore is? They are nothing but a bunch of corrupt, self-serving parasites who have systematically destroyed this country and lumbered generations to come - which includes your descendants - with massive debt. I hope this government is kicked out of office next year and we NEVER see another Liebore government again.
In my mind, there is no doubt that Labour has sabotaged Britains Society and Economy, and whilst solving the Irish problem, exposed us to the threat of Islamic terrorism because of their blind assocation with Mr Bush military adventures.
History will tell....
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Marcus Cicero, Haydon Wick says...
11:46pm Wed 9 Dec 09
No one would belive you if you said "christmass is coming".
Your history.
The people dont want you.
You can leave or wait a few months.
Your real job at the ministry of silly walks will keep you in expences at our expence till you are to old to work