London MPs' Second Home Privilege Must Stop - Teather

2.11.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 30th May 2008

Local MP Sarah Teather lives in Willesden Green

Brent's Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather has used a major radio debate to call for London MP's tax payer funded second home privilege to be scrapped.

The second home allowance is intended for MPs whose constituencies are beyond commuting distance from Parliament. But some MPs continue to claim second home cash from the taxpayer despite representing areas a short tube journey away from parliament.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions, Sarah Teather called for this second home allowance to be abolished for London MPs.

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"The second home allowance is a gross misuse of taxpayers money and totally unjustified.

"Why should taxpayers shell out to provide an extra home for MPs when so many people in our borough do not have a home at all? There must be better ways to spend this money.

"I have never claimed a second home allowance as I have just one home in Willesden Green. Brent really isn't that far from Central London and it is not difficult to commute to and from Westminster with my constituents on the tube.

"It's about time the second home allowance for London MPs was abolished. It simply isn't fair that local people in Brent struggle to make ends meet while their tax is wasted in this way."

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Read the BBC Any Questions transcript.