MP claims for hotel films

Published on Saturday 4 July 2009 19:54

A NORTHERN Irish politician charged the taxpayer £555 for watching pay-per-view films in his hotel, it emerged yesterday.

Jeffrey Donaldson, a Democratic Unionist MP, used his second home allowance to charge for films when staying in hotel accommodation in London over a two-year period.

The Daily Telegraph reported that his expense receipts show claims for 68 movies, many at the rate charged for blockbusters and adult films.

The MP yesterday agreed to pay back a sum of 678 which, DUP sources say, relate to room service, mini bars and "entertainment".In a statement released to the Telegraph, he denied watching adult films.

According to Commons rules, MPs are only allowed to claim for items "wholly, exclusively and necessarily" relating to their duties.

Donaldson's solicitor, John McBurney told the Telegraph: "Clearly it is impossible to be precise in relation to each and every item. However, it would have been common practice to have used pay TV, including internet access and other media services."

In a further revelation, a senior Conservative MP claimed home loan costs for a property on which he had no mortgage.

Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan bought a house in his constituency in 1992 which he designated his second home, allowing him to claim costs against it. He designated a London property as his main home. It was not until 2004 that mortgage costs of 271,000 were charged against it.

A spokesman for Duncan insisted that the MP had been charging for genuine mortgage costs between 1992 and 2004. He said Duncan had taken out a mortgage secured against his London property in order to buy his second home.

The spokesman added: "The mortgage has always been in respect of the constituency property and any claim made against it in allowances has been entirely and exclusively for that purpose."

Duncan realigned his mortgage against his second home in 2004, coinciding with a new rule for MPs to provide proof of mortgage interest payments.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne is being investigated by a Westminster sleaze watchdog after he designated his London family home as his second residence for two years to cover a similar mortgage arrangement.

Former Labour minister Doug Henderson said yesterday he would quit the Commons at the General Election.

It emerged last month he claimed 800 for telephone calls made from his family home in Fife which is more than four hours' drive from his constituency in Newcastle.