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Andy Love Labour MP for Edmonton under fire over expenses
News Desk
Andy Love the Labour MP for Edmonton is courting controversy following the news that the independent auditor with responsibility for looking at MP's expenses Sir Ian Legg, has given an "unknown" verdict on the state of the Edmonton's MPs expenses.
In contrast neighbouring MPs, David Burrowes, Conservative MP for Southgate, and Joan Ryan, Labour MP for Enfield North received a clean bill of health.
Andy Love has reportedly claimed £763,151 expenses throughout his career in Parliament, but is still not disclosing the details of claims from 2004 until he claims "confused" and "inaccurate" 'errors of fact' are resolved, that was four weeks ago.
It is believed that Andy Love is committed to making the findings on his expenses public; to date there has been no disclosure over when this will take place.
Following direct approaches by The London Daily News, Andy Love who since 2005, has been a member of the Treasury Select Committee, investigating issues surrounding the economy and the banking and financial sectors, has failed to respond to our inquiries.
No reply
The London Daily News asked Andy Love's staff whether he had heard back from Sir Ian Legg's audit team, with one Labour official confirming that when the details are ready this will be made "public".
Andy Love claimed at the end of October he had written three times to Sir Thomas Legg and had not received a reply.
The Conservative party candidate Andrew Charalambous commented on the expenses scandal surrounding Andy Love MP and said Tuesday:
"When it comes to public office it is absolutely essential to be straight up and accountable to your constituents. Those who are not, are not fit for the job."
Charalambous who is a keen advocate for a tube station to be established in Edmonton said:
"If elected, I for one will use public transport and intend to quickly reveal all my expense details.”
Second home allowance
Andy Love has claimed for a second home allowance despite living less than 10 miles from Westminster and last year claimed the maximum £20,083 allowance.
When quizzed on living just an hour’s commute from work he said:
"Yes, the journey may only take around 1hour 15minutes but it's not realistic to be doing that journey late at night and early in the morning every day, week in, week out if you're going to be a full time MP.
To which a blogger retorted:
"I wouldn't mind betting that the catering, cleaning and security staff at the House of Commons are expected to do it."
He also claimed £3,500 in legal and property costs, £2,895 on redecoration, £929 for a television and £549 for a sideboard.
When quizzed that his attempts buy a £1,000 TV was "a lot of money “ to ordinary people he said:
"Yes, they probably would. And so did the house authorities. I actually received £750, which is the maximum that the House would allow. I would go on to say that this is not a flat screen TV, but an ordinary bog-standard one.”
Andy Love MP expenses:
2007/08 (ranking out of 645)
Additional Costs Allowance £23,083 (joint 1st) Highest in House of Commons
Incidental Expenses Provision £19,418 (269th)
Staffing Allowance £87,933 (317th)
Communications Allowance £7,371 (363rd)
Members' Travel £2,520 (569th)
Centrally Purchased Stationery £1,952 (29th)
Stationery: Associated £5,046 (54th)
Postage Costs
Centrally Provided £1,413 (joint 62nd)
Computer Equipment
Total £148,757 (292nd) 2007/8
Source: theyworkforyou
Total = £763,151 claimed since 2001
photo credit: Andy Love MP Flickr photostream (Andy Love with Lightning electric car)
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