Taxpayers count cost as new MSPs claim for office moves

By IAN SWANSON
Published on Friday 10 February 2012 12:00

MOVING home is never a cheap business – and nor is moving into a new office, it seems.

The latest breakdown of MSPs’ expenses published by the Scottish Parliament reveals how the new MSPs elected last May went shopping for vacuum cleaners, kettles, clocks, bins, brooms and toilet brushes, as well as getting decorators and ordering window graphics, blinds and carpets – not to mention finding premises in the first place.

Colin Beattie, SNP MSP for Midlothian North & Musselburgh, said setting up a constituency office as an MSP proved “particularly challenging”.

Mr Beattie said: “The allowances we get mean you are really constrained. There were places available, but the rateable values were too high and we could not afford the rent.”

He eventually secured an office at a rent of £4200 a year. “But what I got was a shell and I had to refurbish it,” he said.

Holyrood officials balked at the £5626 bill for painting and joinery, arguing the landlord should have carried that out. But Mr Beattie said: “He would have charged a higher rent and he might not have done it to the standard you want.” He won his appeal.

Mr Beattie also claimed £129.38 for goods including a vacuum cleaner, clock, toilet brush, blind duster and bucket, and another £135.42 for a fridge, crockery and cutlery.

He said he had paid out of his own pocket for sofas and tables for the office.

The detailed breakdown of expenses shows Lothians’ three Labour list MSPs – Sarah Boyack, Kezia Dugdale and Neil Findlay – shared the £4714 cost of joinery, electrical work and glazing at their shared office in West Calder. They also claimed for heaters, carpets, blinds and fire extinguishers.

Edinburgh Pentlands SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald, who has recently secured a constituency office in Inglis Green Road, claimed £813.60 for a roller shutter, £483.70 for carpets, £516 for decoration and £144 for kitchen units.

He also claimed £12 for a 16-piece Ikea dinner set for staff, £9.99 for a coat rack, £7.49 for a table and £143.97 for a fridge, toaster and kettle.

Edinburgh Central SNP MSP Marco Biagi has a constituency office in Buccleuch Street. His claims included a fridge and microwave with grill, worth £188.97, and a Thermos pump, vacuum cleaner, mugs, mop and bucket at £62.95.

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gratislobotommy

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 07:59 PM

ABDUCTIONS FORCED BRAIN ELECTRODE-CHIP IMPLANTS BLACKLISTING FORCEFUL UNEMPLOYMENT HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION MK-ULTRA BRAINWASHING AND ASSASSINATIONS AGAINST WHITE(under "NAZI" lie) CIVILIAN POPULATION TODAY IN 20112012 ACROSS THE EUROPE AND NORTHERN AMERICA! VISIT ALL NEW http:notethicsbutbutchery.blogspot.com OR WHOLE STORY http:myshortbiography.blogspot.com ARIZONA = UTOYA = THERE WAS NO SHOOTING EITHER IN NORWAY OR ARIZONA, BUT INSTEAD “AFTERLIFE” CASH$$ & FLASH MOB WITH TEAR GASS AND THEATER WHILE CALLING YOU TERRORISTS !!!! Guilt or blame and shame weapon against us and our families in our own countries during bogus “economic crises” while importing here non white third world foreigners! 911(TWIN TOWERS) = NORWAY BOMBING OR STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM, HOWEVER, WAS REAL !!! http:stateofterror.blogspot.com OR http:avsecbostjan.blogspot.com

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Vote 'NO'

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 09:05 AM

Snouts in troughs readily springs to mind. But you do get what you vote for,

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housty45

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 08:21 AM

This seams to be a petty attempt at criticising the SNP for their phenomenal success last May. There can be no balance as I doubt there were any issues of accommodation for their opponents. Given the availability of derelict telephone boxes.

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