Paying for mistake

The MP for Sherwood, Mr Paddy Tipping, has apologised for using taxpayers’ money to refurbish his London flat.

It was revealed last week that Mr Tipping voluntarily paid back £14,000. He is one of a large number of MPs from all parties who have paid back expenses claimed since 2003.

In 2003 Mr Tipping increased the mortgage on his property to provide money for repairs, refurbishments and to buy furniture and redecorate.

The claim was approved by the House of Commons’ Fees Office and complied with Parliamentary rules, but Mr Tipping said he had been worrying about it for some time.

He said: “It became clear to me that people’s views of expenses have changed since 2003.

“In March I decided it was wrong to claim that extra money. I talked to the House of Commons authorities and we worked out how much that interest cost.

“I made a mistake. I got it wrong. I’m sorry. I’m trying to put it right and the best way of doing it is giving the money back.

“I come from a very ordinary, hard-working family. I know people are struggling at the moment and it seemed wrong.”

All 646 MPs’ expenses were revealed last week, but with key details blocked out for security and privacy reasons.

Mr Tipping said he had always claimed the maximum food allowance, even during the summer recess because he worked in London during the recess.

MPs were allowed to claim up to £400 a month for food without having to show receipts, but this has changed.

Mr Tipping said he was pleased that the allowance had been reduced to £25 for a night spent in London.

The published expenses also reveal that Mr Tipping paid £1,175 in 2006-7 to Lambeth Housing for external decoration and associated works.

He is a leaseholder in a block of flats in Lambeth, about a 15-minute walk from the Com-mons, and the payment was his share of the total cost.

His other claims include £135 for a TV licence last year and £199 for a vacuum cleaner from Currys.

Mr Tipping, who has claimed for a TV licence for four years, said: “I like to keep up with what is going on in the wider world. That is why I have got a small TV and a licence.”

Mr Tipping thought the rules on expenses had been far too loose and hoped the Committee on Standards in Public Life would bring about changes.