New figures have been published showing the business costs for many of the country’s MPs.
The figures come from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
How much did your MP spend?
Simon Fell, Barrow and Furness, elected in 2019
Total: £36,761.75
- Office costs: £14,028.33
- Staffing: £15,630.96 (Payroll £14,355.96. Bought-in £90)
- Accommodation: £2,945.23
- Travel: £4,157.23: MP £2,865.33; staff £1,291.90
- Least expensive cost: £1.20 for parking in Ulverston
Mr Fell said: “Those costs cover the wages of four members of staff and the rent and running of a full time office to serve my constituents.
“I try to keep costs as low as possible, but the volume of work, especially during the pandemic, has been overwhelming.
“We often receive hundreds of emails every day from constituents concerned about everything from COVID support, through to questions on government business and foreign policy.
“The aim is to serve each constituent as quickly, and well, as possible.
“And on top of that, we work across Furness to support local groups and make the case for investment in our community from central and local government.“
John Stevenson, Carlisle, elected in 2010
Total: £191,072.71
- Office costs: £23,777.97
- Staffing: £139,817.14,. Payroll: £134,275.14; pooled staffing services: £3,142. Bought-in services: £2,400
- Hotel in London: £13,934.00
- Travel: £13,543.60 MP £10,301.70; staff £3,241.90.
- Least expensive cost: 62p for postage
Mr Stevenson’s office has been approached for a comment.
Trudy Harrison, Copeland, elected in 2017
Total: £190,457.48
- Office costs: £13,231.04
- Payroll: £137,584.24
- Accommodation: £28,324.48
- Travel: £11,317.72 Mrs Harrison £6,292.74; staff £4,699.38; dependant £325.60
Mrs Harrison said: “All expenses, which are actually the costs associated with running two offices including staff wages and office equipment are recorded with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and all information is made available as required.
“I’m extremely grateful to my team who have worked incredibly hard over the last year in particular, handling difficult calls with the upmost of professionalism and dedication.”
Neil Hudson, Penrith and the Border, elected in 2019
Total: £29,968.38
- Office costs: £5,036.70
- Staffing £19,357.82 (payroll £18,472.82; pooled staff £885.00
- Accommodation £3,538.89
- Travel £2,034.97
- Least expensive cost: 45p for fuel
Dr Hudson’s office has been approached for a comment.
Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale, elected 2005
Total: £204,349.61
- Office costs £16,891.47
- Staffing £155,505.36 – payroll £154,005.36; bought-in services £1,500
- Accommodation £20,287.43
- Travel £11,665.35 – MP £8,914.70; staff £2,750.65
- Least expensive cost: £1.50 for postage
Mr Farron also spent £960 for regular articles to be written on his behalf between April and December 2019.
Mr Farron said: “As always, the bulk of my expenditure goes on employing staff to help me to support our local communities here in Cumbria.
“The work they have done during this pandemic is phenomenal, helping me to deal with over 12,000 cases since March where local people have turned to me for support.
“I’m grateful to my team for ensuring that I have been able, for example, to help people access mental health treatment for their children, to help families to get a roof over their heads and to get local people back home who were stranded abroad at the beginning of the pandemic.”
Mark Jenkinson, Workington, elected 2019
Total: £53,900.22
- Office costs: £11,131.50
- Staffing: £25,640.73. Payroll: £17604.35; Bought-in services £1452.58; Training staff £5698.80
- Accommodation: £5,685.00, including hotels in London at £3,150
- Maintenance, redecoration, and repairs: £5,820.
- Travel: £5,622.99; MP £4,654.69; staff £834.60; dependant £133.70
- Least expensive cost: £1.82 postage to House of Commons
Mr Jenkinson also spent £5,622.99 on staff training with the Centre for Leadership Performance.
Mr Jenkinson said: “IPSA was set up a decade ago to administer and publish all claims by MPs.
“They publish an annual scheme of allowable costs which is tightly controlled within published budgets.
“Their website publishes spending by every MP so that spending is wholly transparent. It is right that this process is in place to prevent instances of abuse of the system.
“It is absolutely imperative that MP office and staff costs are fully funded to avoid representation in Westminster becoming the preserve of the independently wealthy.”
