Wallasey MP Angela Eagle defends her record of claiming below the maximum allowance

May 20 2009 by Matt Hurst, Wallasey News

WALLASEY’S Labour MP Angela Eagle will publish her full expenses this week and says she has been “shocked by some of the revelations” regarding fellow Parliamentarians.

Wirral is making national headlines as one of the four MPs who represent the borough in the House of Commons, Ben Chapman, is facing possible suspension from the party following publication of his expenses claims.

The MP for Wirral South, a constituency that stretches from Bebington to Eastham, stands accused of receiving £15,000 from the taxpayer to cover interest payments on a mortgage that had already been substantially cleared.

Mr Chapman says he made the claims in full knowledge, and with the blessing of, the Fees Office, whose role is to regulate and police the submissions of elected members.

Elliot Morley, Labour MP for Scunthorpe, was suspended from the party for making similar ‘phantom mortgage’ claims.

But Wallasey MP Eagle defended her record of claiming among the lowest Parliamentary expenses of any MP.

The Treasury minister has consistently filed for less than half her ‘second home’ allowance of £25,000.

Between 2004 and 2005, Angela Eagle claimed a total of £10,588, this rose to £12,823 in 2005 and 2006, before dropping down to £8,297 over 2006 and 2007, and decreasing again to £7,045 in the most recent accounts, between 2007 and 2008.

Ms Eagle told the News: “The allowances are in place to support the work MPs do and to help us maintain two homes, both in London and in our constituencies.

“The average claim of an MP of any party this year was £17,000, mine was £7,000.

“It is a matter of public record that I don’t claim the maximum amount available.

“I can see why people are angry by what has come to light in recent days and I too have been shocked by some of the revelations.

“I won’t, however, let the debate surrounding MPs’ expenses stop me getting on with my job of fighting for Wallasey and standing up for my constituents.”

Ms Eagle’s colleague in Wirral West, Stephen Hesford MP, who has also remained unscathed by the furore, said: “Get a new system and clean it up as soon as possible” before adding that he was “very happy for his receipts to come out for the public to look at”.