Anger as four MPs including a Tory minister demand hundreds of pounds in fare fines
Anger as four MPs including a Tory minister demand hundreds of pounds in fare fines – despite it being against the rules
- Energy Secretary Amanda Solloway called for her to be fined for speeding at MPs’ expense
- Tory MPs Simon Hoare and Bim Afolami and SNP’s Dave Doogan also claimed
A government minister, two Tory MPs and an SNP representative are being asked to pay back hundreds of pounds in fare fines they have claimed as expenses.
Amanda Solloway, an Energy Department minister who formerly served under Home Secretary Suella Braverman and is also the head of government, is one of four MPs who claimed the fines, as listed in the expense register.
The Derby North MP recovered a £80 fine from Transport for London dated 2 July 2020.
Tory MPs Simon Hoare and Bim Afolami and SNP MP Dave Doogan also made similar claims, The Independent reported.
Now the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is said to be contacting claimants and demanding repayment of the money after admitting they wrongly allowed the payments.
Amanda Solloway MP, Secretary of State for Energy, on 2 July 2020, requested back an £80 fine from Transport for London
Tory MPs Bim Afolami (left) and Simon Hoare (right) made similar claims on fines using MPs’ spending
A spokesman for the regulator said: “MPs may not claim penalties and fines under IPSA rules.” Paragraph 3.26 of the Scheme of MPs’ Staffing and Business Costs clearly states that these fines cannot be claimed.
“In some cases, IPSA’s checks failed to identify these claims and some of them were paid.”
“We will contact MPs and ask them to pay back if necessary.” “We have changed our procedure to ensure that such claims are not paid in the future and will repeat the rules of the system to MPs.”
The controversy comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decided earlier this week not to open an investigation into Ms Braverman for trying to get a private class to avoid points for a traffic offence.
Shadow leader of the Labor Party, Thangam Debbonaire, told The Independent: “While Rishi Sunak MPs are breaking the rules and trying to make the taxpayer foot the bill, working people are grappling with the Tories’ mounting cost-of-living crisis have.”
“Tory MPs who break the rules damage public confidence in the system.” “Rishi Sunak must take action against the rule-breakers in his party and continue to stand up for the British people.”
Dave Doogan, SNP MP for Angus, called for a £160 fine in January 2022
IPSA’s Inventory of MPs’ Spending reveals that Mr Hoare, MP for North Dorset, claimed fines of £80 four times in November 2019.
Mr Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, asked for two fines of £80 in December 2021.
He said, “[It was]completely unintentional.” “All money was returned the moment I knew about it.”
Mr Doogan, SNP MP for Angus, asked for a £160 fine in January 2022.
Ms Solloway, Mr Hoare and Mr Doogan were contacted by PA for comment.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “This would be a matter for individual MPs and IPSA.”