Up to 50 MPs claim too much council tax

Published on Saturday 20 June 2009 20:00

MPS have inflated council tax bills on their expenses, receiving thousands of pounds more than they paid to local authorities, it has emerged.

As many as 50 MPs claimed sums higher than their council tax payments on expenses and then pocketed the difference. Up to 18 MPs have now repaid the sums after the uncensored versions of their expenses were leaked to the press.

The over-claiming was made possible because, until recently, MPs did not need to provide receipts for payments of less than 250. An investigation has found many MPs simply filled in a round figure every month – of around 150 or 200 for council tax – which was in excess of their actual payment.

In other cases, MPs made 12 monthly claims even though their annual bills were divided into ten instalments.

Labour MP Eric Illsley is understood to have over-claimed by more than 6,000 between 2004 and 2008. He charged 10,000 over the period on council tax even though he was only charged 3,966 for his south London home.

Illsley said yesterday that the claims were submitted during a period when receipts were not required and that many MPs claimed a notional amount rather than the actual cost of the bill.

He said: "This is why the claims do not match the council tax bills. It is embarrassing. I'm sorry it has happened. I have never made any secret of my claims and I will pay back the money."

Other claims under scrutiny include those by former minister Beverley Hughes, who is understood to have profited by up to 2,000. Government whip Mark Tami is also thought to have over-claimed, by about 1,500. Tami said yesterday: "I am going to look into whether I have over-claimed and if I have then, clearly, I will pay back any over-claim."

Conservative front-benchers David Willetts and Jeremy Hunt were reported to have over-claimed for council tax by about 500 each. Willetts said it was possible he had "inadvertently" claimed for an 11th month and if so, he would pay back any over-claim.