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The government official in charge of identifying excessive spending has been using taxpayer money to rent a flat in London, even though her husband, who is also a member of Parliament, owns a property nearby.
Over the course of the past two years, Esther McVey has been given a total of £30,000 in public funds to cover the rent for the apartment she shares with her husband, Phillip Davies, who is the MP for Shipley.
Ms McVey, the elected representative for Tatton, receives an annual salary of £86,584 for her position as a Member of Parliament. In addition to this, she also holds the position of Cabinet Office Minister without a specific portfolio, which will likely result in a significant increase in her income.
According to The Daily Telegraph and activist group Led By Donkeys, this couple has been declaring costs for a property in Westminster since 2017.
The individual known as Esther McVey, who holds the title of minister for common sense, has expressed disapproval towards the excessive and unnecessary spending by the government.
Based on the report, Mr. Davies possesses a property in Waterloo that can be reached by walking for approximately 25 minutes. The property is being leased and the member of parliament has disclosed an annual income exceeding £10,000 from this property.
Over the last two years, Mr Davies has made thousands of pounds through media work. He expressed his willingness to keep receiving mortgage reimbursements for his owned flat, but that choice was taken away from him.
After the 2009 expenses scandal, MPs are no longer permitted to receive reimbursement for their mortgage payments from taxpayers due to changes in regulations.
The pair’s actions do not violate any regulations, however their agreement brings up concerns about cost-effectiveness, especially considering Ms McVey’s position as a high-ranking government official in charge of addressing extravagant expenditures.
Philip Davies MP is the spouse of Ms McVey.
Last year, Ms McVey, someone who openly supports low taxes and Thatcherism, expressed in the Daily Mail that she does not want taxpayers’ money to be wasted on unnecessary government expenditures.
As a minister in the Cabinet Office without a specific portfolio, her responsibilities include implementing governmental priorities and promoting clear communication of Downing Street’s goals.
Previously, Ms McVey held the position of secretary of state for work and pensions from January to November 2018, and also received a significant amount of money for her work in the media.
In February, she informed GB News that she had communicated with autonomous government organizations, urging them to improve their spending practices.
“We aim to ensure that there is no unnecessary spending… It is not acceptable to burden taxpayers and then request additional funds from the government, while neglecting to eliminate wasteful expenses,” she stated.
Mr. Davies informed Led By Donkeys: “If I fully owned the apartment and could reside there without any expenses, then I would be inclined to agree that I should do so. However, that is not at all applicable to my situation.”
To my knowledge, most workplaces cover the expenses for individuals who are working outside of their home region. I find it unexpected that you believe this should not continue to be the norm. This change could potentially only allow those who are financially well-off to pursue careers as MPs.
Ms. McVey has been reached out to for a statement.
Source: independent.co.uk
