Recently the press has covered the highly questionable use of tax payers money to fund all manner of self-indulgent spends by UK MPs. The latest of these spends which has come to light, are purchases made by Stephen Byers, former Cabinet Minister. Byers resides in a flat belonging to his girlfriend on a rent-free basis and has claimed £125,000 in expenses for home improvements to the property.

Critics have commented that anyone in any other line of work would have to save from their salary or borrow to make improvements to their home rather than add decorating bills to their corporate expenses accounts. Some journalists have therefore described the Byer’s spending as a flagrant misuse of power.

As well as re-decorating his partner’s flat with tax-payers money he also spent large sums on new appliances for his home. Byer’s partner, a lawyer is believed to have first purchased the flat in 1982 and a similar flat in the building sold for £170,000 in the 2001. As Jan Cookson, Byer’s girlfriend doesn’t have any mortgage to pay on the property Byers was unable to claim any interest from the government. Instead, by making renovations between the year 2001 and 2008 he had clocked £26,648 in expenses.

In addition to the flat, Byers and Cookson also live in a semi-detached property located in Byer’s North Tyneside constituency. This house is believed to be worth in the region of £400,000 and was bought by the couple in 1996. Byers is also the sole-owner of a third property located in Newcastle which he rents out privately.

As well as making expensive superficial (decorative) changes to the London flat at the tax-payers’ expense, Byers also charged the government £4,867 between 2004 and 2005 citing repairs, security, maintenance and insurance as the reasons for the spending. According to some reports he also spent £388 on a washing machine using tax-payers’ money and claimed £530 to repair and repaint internal doors. When questioned on his spending, Byers said his claims were all within House of Commons guidelines and were quickly approved.

Related posts:

1. Homemade Home Improvements Despite what the home improvement television shows will suggest, not...
2. Home Improvements Remain Strong Across the Atlantic divide, our American cousins are more or...
3. Add Value with Loft Conversions and Home Improvements Many homeowners and property developers who undertake home improvements will...
4. Home Improvements for an Autumn Sale As a disappointing summer draws to a close, signs of...
5. Recession Fuels Green Home Improvement A devastating drop in the numbers of people choosing to...