Couldn’t he just get on his bike?
Labour MSP claims 45p for commute of only one mile... 90 times
A LABOUR MSP has charged taxpayers 45p a ti me f or dozens of one-mile car journeys from his home to his office.
Hanzala Malik, who a party i nsider described as ‘ useless’, shunned cycling and walking, despite urging his Glasgow constituents to seize upon the legacy of the Commonwealth Games.
His expenses include 90 claims for 45p for the brief drive between his home and office and a further 47 for 90p – the return journey.
But he was not the only politician to claim for ridiculously short journeys. Education Secretary Angela Constance made nine claims of less than £1 for one or two-mile journeys in and around her Almond Valley constituency, while former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill submitted 19 claims of less than £1, many for trips between his home and office in Edinburgh.
Another Labour MSP, Paul Martin, charged taxpayers for 85 claims of under £1, most of them for only 45p.
According to HMRC rules, the vast majority of taxpayers are not entitled to be reimbursed for the daily cost of travelling between home and work.
Mr Malik, a former councillor, has failed to make an impact at Holyrood since being elected in 2011, with one party source complaining he had ‘contributed nothing’. Before standing down as Scottish Labour leader, Jim Murphy forced through changes that mean sitting MSPs are no longer given ‘protected’ status on lists. One Labour insider said Mr Malik would be ‘some way down’ on the Glasgow list.
He added: ‘Hopefully, in May, Hanzala will have plenty of time to take up more walking.’
Despite the Scottish Government launching an Active Travel campaign, with the motto ‘Not far? Leave the car’, some MSPs – and even ministers – failed to set an example.
Mr Malik’s total expenses for 2014-15 was £15,530.67 – equivalent to almost £300 a week – and included hundreds of mileage claims, including many for £21.60 for the journey between his home and Holyrood.
His reluctance to leave the car contrasts with his comments on the Commonwealth Games.
‘If we are to secure a lasting legacy for the games, we need to harness that positive strength and not waste it waiting for whatever else might come along,’ he said in August, 2014.
Eben Wilson of campaign group TaxpayerScotland said: ‘ Mr Malik needs to be sent on secondment to any small business accounts department. Tiny expenses like this cost a fortune in time and effort to process.
‘Not only is he claiming money that others cannot claim, he is wasting the productive time of those who have to oversee his claims for our tax money.
‘That administrative time is paid for by taxpayers poorer that Mr Malik. His claiming these small sums is disgraceful.’
A spokesman for the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: ‘ A system which allows politicians to claim for travelling between their home and constituency office is bonkers and has to be changed.’
Green MSP Alison Johnstone, who claimed £3,287, one of the smallest overall amounts, said: ‘While there are circumstances in which people will need to use a car or a taxi, for example when you’ve got heavy luggage or you’re having difficulty with mobility, walking and cycling short distances should be the norm for all of us. We should all set an example to our kids by choosing healthier and more affordable means of transport.
‘As MSPs, we represent the people of Scotland in the public eye and have an even greater responsibility to practice what we preach.’
Mr Malik was not available for comment yesterday. His biggest claims were for £750 for advertising with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, £600 for a website upgrade and £558 for double-sided posters inside his constituency office.
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: ‘Mr Malik’s claims were all within the rules and were authorised by parliamentary expenses.’
An SNP spokesman said: ‘The SNP is committed to promoting sustainable and active travel wherever possible.’
A spokesman for Sustrans Scotland, a lobby group for cycling, walking and public transport, said: ‘For people with busy lifestyles, including our politicians, taking every- day journeys by foot or bike is one of the best and easiest ways to build a bit of physical activity into the daily routine.’