MP quizzed over expenses says: ‘I write a lot of letters’

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse claimed £4,800 for an office printer and when challenged said “I write a lot of letters!”. The city’s top politician described the Comcolor printer as the “backbone of our office” and said it had been put to good use. In response to enquiries from our website Bath Live, Mrs Hobhouse also said she saved the taxpayer a potential £40,000 by taking on the lease of her predecessor Ben Howlett’s office in the city centre and vowed to never claim a penny for travel expenses within Bath. According to an analysis, Liberal Democrat Mrs Hobhouse is claiming more than the average MP on accommodation, travel, office costs and staffing. She is claiming well below average on staff travel as well as ‘winding up’ and ‘dependant travel.’ Some of these categories, however, are likely to be distorted because of start-up costs as a newly elected MP. Mrs Hobhouse became the first female MP for Bath in June 2017 when she unseated Mr Howlett with a 17.6 per cent swing in votes from the Conservatives. In contrast to her predecessor, who infamously made a claim for 13p after a 0.3 mile trip, Mrs Hobhouse has made no claims under £1. She has claimed expenses of £1,000 and above 13 times. In response, Mrs Hobhouse said: “It’s right that MPS’ expenses are scrutinised and, like any new MP, I have had costs associated with setting up my constituency office to serve the residents of Bath. “My office is now fully functional, and as of March 2018, I was claiming less than average for running expenses. I believe we are an efficient office, and are working hard to meet the needs of constituents.” She explained the £40,000 saving included use of a solicitor when she took over the lease on Ben Howlett’s office, which he had taken out for five years, not expecting Theresa May to call the election last year. She added: “In taking on his lease, I have potentially saved the taxpayer some £40,000 for an otherwise empty office.” When questioned about the printer, Mrs Hobhouse said: “I bought a heavy duty printer which my team and I use to print letters to constituents as well as promotional material for events I organise in my role as MP, such as the six months’ worth of work on transport and pollution. “It’s the backbone of our office, and we needed a piece of equipment that will last for a long time and not breakdown under heavy use. I write a lot of letters!” She said the only travel costs claimed are for travel to and from London, either by train or car, and those of her staff. The MP added: “I have never, and will never, claim a penny for travel expenses in Bath. I mostly use my electric bike to get around. “Ultimately, the expenses regime approved by Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, allows for MPS to operate a professional and efficient public service, helping their constituents, engaging with their communities on important local issues, as well as all the work they do in Parliament. “People deserve the best service possible from their elected representative, and hopefully those who have used the service offered by my constituency office will agree that we are delivering for them.” The website MPS’ Expenses shows Mrs Hobhouse made 189 expense claims between her election on June 8, 2017, and the end of March 2018. This totalled £49,324. Mrs Hobhouse claimed less than half the amount of the highest claiming MP, Ian Blackford who represents the SNP in Ross, Skye and Lochaber. The only current MP to rack up a six-figure bill, he made 440 claims for £102,000 from April 1 2017 to March 31 2017. Five MPS - Labour’s Nick Dakin and Gillian Furniss, Sinn Fein’s Pat Doherty, Conservative Suella Fernandes and SNP Martin Docherty have claimed nothing at all.