Oldham’s ‘saintly’ MP calls for rapid change

OLDHAM MP Michael Meacher has been hailed one of the ‘frugal few’ politicians for claiming small second home allowances.

More than 2.4 million receipts covering claims for all MPs were to be officially published in July after the Commons authorities lost a Freedom of Information battle to keep them secret.

But The Daily Telegraph paid an undisclosed sum for a leaked disc containing all the details claiming the versions released in the summer would have allowed abuses to go unchecked because addresses would have been edited out.

While many MPs have been shamed, the Oldham West and Royton MP has been listed as one of 10 “saintly” MPs.

Mr Meacher said: “I am obviously pleased to have it recognised I have not make any strange claims, but I am deeply troubled about the damage this is doing and shocked by the revelations.

“I am gobsmacked and we have to take rapid action and make changes.

“I fill out my forms every month and I am very precise and want the information in the public domain.

“At the moment there is a drip effect and everything needs to be out there. People are so angry.”

The Labour MP said he claims for mortgage interest on his Oldham home, utility bills and council tax. Last year he claimed £8,944 from the additional cost allowance of £23,083.

Revelations over expenses have rocked Westminster to its core with MPs from all parties being brought into disrepute.

Exposed claims show former Lib-Dem leader Ming Campbell claimed for an interior designer to redecorate and Labour MP for Luton South Margaret Moran reclaimed £22,500 spent treating dry rot at her designated second home in Southampton — 100 miles from her constituency.

And many red-faced Tory grandees had to to justify claims ranging from cleaning pools and maintaining helipads‚ to moat cleaning and hanging chandeliers.

Mr Meacher said there should be agreements with all three parties while proposals are being drawn up by Sir Christopher Kelly.

No one should be allowed to “flip” their second home for financial gain, any profit made from owning a second home should be given back to the taxpayer and expenses should be put on line as they are incurred.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown last night said: “The keystone to reform must be to switch from self-regulation to independent external regulation.

Westminster cannot operate like some gentleman’s club where the members make up the rules among themselves.”