21/10/04 Swindon Labour MPs Expenses Made Public

Swindon's two MPs, Michael Wills and Julia Drown, are each claiming more than £100,000 a year in expenses the Adver can reveal.

Official figures set to be published for the first time today show taxpayers funded their activities to the tune of £226,893 last year.

That figure does not include their annual MP salary of than £57,485, or their generous pension rights.

Mr Wills, the Labour MP for North Swindon, incurred office, travel and administration costs of £111,999 over the last financial year, up from £76,513 in 2001/2002.

He admitted the amount of money involved would be more than most residents would have expected.

He said: "The sums involved are huge. For a constituent to hear the total cost of running an MP for a year is over £100,000 ­ they will see that as amazing."

But he insisted his own expenses were justified: "These sums look large but they are to cover the costs that are incurred in running our work and properly serving a constituency.

"The bulk of my expenses go on paying my staff who I hope and believe provide a good service for the people of the town."

Ms Drown, the Labour MP for South Swindon, ran up bills of £114,894 in 2003/2004, an increase from £82,735 in 2001/2002.

She also defended the cost, and insisted she kept a tight rein on spending.

Last year Mr Wills claimed £100,938 on expenses and this year that figure has increased by 10 per cent to just under £112,000, an increase of five times the rate of inflation.

While Ms Drown, last year spent £107,358 but this year, that figure rose to £114.894, an increase of around seven per cent, more than three times the rate of inflation.

Despite the big numbers, neither of the town's MPs claimed as much in expenses as they could have. Under parliamentary rules, they could have spent more than £115,000 ­ not including travel costs, central computer facilities or stationery.

The figures under the heading IEP relate to constituency office IT costs, stationery and incidental expenses. Additional Cost Allowances is to reimburse MPs when living away from home while on parliamentary business.

Details of all MPs expenses were due to be published for the first time today. Overall expenditure on MPs in 2002-03 was £78 million.

Previously the information had been kept secret from the public.

MPs wanted to act before clauses under the Freedom of Information Act come into effect in January.

There have been reports of MPs contacting officials to pay back dubious expenses before today's publication. Officials declined to confirm that.

Evening Advertiser 21/10/04

Councillor Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, "I, like all local residents will be looking very carefully at the levels of expenses claimed by our MPs.  We expect our MPs to be a strong voice putting Swindon first, and I am sure this can help local residents determine whether we are getting value for money."