Sinn Fein MPs' £500k expenses racket: Adams and Co claim for London flats - even though they boycott parliament
By
Kirsty Walker
Last updated at 10:58 PM on 07th April 2009
Five Sinn Fein MPs have claimed nearly half a million pounds in expenses on two rented London flats they share.
The MPs, who refuse to take their seats in the Commons, charged taxpayers £105,000 in the last financial year alone.
Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, Michelle Gildernew, Pat Doherty and Conor Murphy each claimed £21,000 under the controversial Additional Cost Allowances system - just short of the maximum.
Critics said it was impossible to believe that they could have run up such a bill on rent, maintenance and furnishing the accommodation.
Even a luxury three-bedroom flat with views of Buckingham Palace would cost just over £36,000 a year.
Tory spokesman Owen Paterson said: 'It is completely unacceptable for Sinn Fein representatives, who won't even sit in Parliament, to claim hundreds of thousands at the taxpayers' expense. That is why the Conservatives have consistently opposed members who refuse to take their seats receiving the accommodation allowance.'
The revelation comes amid mounting public fury over a string of scandals surrounding the second home allowance..............
Article here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1168381/Sinn-Fein-MPs-500k-expenses-racket-Adams-Co-claim-London-flats--boycott-parliament.html
