Lockdown and WFH... but MSPs claimed even MORE expenses
They pocketed a record £17.3m in pandemic...or £47k EVERY DAY
HOLYROOD politicians spent a record amount during the pandemic as expenses claims soared to more than £17million.
The huge payouts increased by around £300,000 from the year before despite the lockdown and working from home.
Although stringent travel restrictions were in place in Scotland, taxpayers were forced to pay out millions after a surge in expenses claims from MSPs.
In total, they claimed £17,288,534 in 2020-21, up from £16.9million the previous year, and equivalent to £47,365 per day.
Officials claim this is down to an ‘explosion’ in case work for constituents during the coronavirus pandemic which led to additional staffing costs, as well as MSPs equipping themselves and staff for home working.
Costs also soared, they insisted, for cleaning products and signage for offices, such as one-way notices, while some politicians who keep flats in Edinburgh continued to pay rent throughout lockdown.
But last night, campaigners warned about the ‘growing cost of politics’ and urged politicians to keep expenses ‘under control’. John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘While MSPs must have resources to do their jobs, many taxpayers will be worried about the growing cost of politics.
‘With the public finances in such dire straits, voters expect politicians to stay grounded and keep costs under control.
‘Limiting their expenses claims where possible would be a welcome way for MSPs to show that we’re all in it together.’
The total expenses bill, which includes staff and office costs, was up by 1.8 per cent from 2019-20. That data, which covers the most recent parliamentary year to the Holyrood election, was published yesterday.
The Scottish parliament adapted to make greater use of remote working following the first coronavirus lockdown, meaning MSPs could take part in debates and vote without being physically present.
The party leaders’ set allowance increased from £36,873 to £38,778. Expenses paid to individual members rose by 2 per cent to £16,749,902. The bulk of this was salaries and pensions for MSPs’ staff, at £13,891,973.
However, spending on stationery and postage fell by more than £30,000 to £499,854.
In 2020-21, three MSPs claimed more than £40,000, taking them to the top of the parliament’s expenses list.
Rhoda Grant, Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands, claimed £45,476.60, the parliament’s highest bill, while Nationalist MSP for the Western Isles Alasdair Allan was second on the list, with a claim of £44,098.
They were closely followed by Labour MSP for South Scotland Colin Smyth, who claimed £42,730.88. All three represent rural areas and have flats in Edinburgh which they use during sitting days at Holyrood.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, they continued to pay rent to keep the properties.
A number of MSPs have rental properties which they use instead of staying in hotels when they attend Holyrood. As well as some MSPs taking on additional staff to deal with a surge in issues in their constituencies, they said they were forced to buy furniture and equipment for themselves and their assistants to work from home during lockdown and the continuing pandemic. There was also a surge in costs for cleaning products for offices, and relevant signage which was used to mark out social distancing and notify of one-way systems when staff started to return to their desks.
A Scottish parliament spokesman said: ‘While travel costs were down, last year saw an explosion in MSPs’ casework during the pandemic, that was reflected in higher staff costs.
‘The cost of equipment and furniture for staff working at home was also up. Inflation too is a factor.’
The claims were criticised by social media users yesterday.
On Twitter, Stephen Gourlay wrote: ‘They shouldn’t be given any expenses. What makes them so special when everyone else out working receives nothing and pay for things using their wages? Considering they are all on a more than comfortable salary they can quite easily afford to pay out their own pocket.’
One person simply asked: ‘How did they manage to accumulate such high expenses when they were in lockdown?’
‘The growing cost of politics’ ‘Comfortable salaries’