Expenses cheat MP claimed for hanging basket outside office
A TORY MP who admitted making a £700 false expenses claim charged the taxpayer for a hanging basket outside his office, it emerged last night.
Disgraced Chris Davies received £31 to pay for hiring the basket for a month – and for it to be watered by council staff.
Last night he said he was ‘proud’ of the basket. The flowers were on show during a month-long festival run by the town council of Builth Wells, Powys, where Mr Davies has his Brecon and Radnorshire constituency office.
The revelation of his basket claim came on the day a recall petition – a public vote in the constituency – opened to decide if Mr Davies should keep his seat. In March the MP admitted making a false expenses claim after he tried to split the £700 cost of photos between two office budgets by faking invoices when he could have claimed the amount by other means. He was given 50 hours unpaid work and a £1,500 fine at Southwark Crown Court.
Every summer the town council in Builth Wells provides local businesses with hanging baskets in an attempt to make the high street look nicer. It also pays for the flowers to be watered for a month.
While most businesses are thought to fund the hiring and watering themselves, Mr Davies decided to charge the taxpayer. His claim, submitted in August 2018, was for ‘hire of Builth hanging basket’.
The £31 cost was paid by the staff at the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority watchdog.
Last night Mr Davies said: ‘This is a scheme that is run every year by a local town council to brighten up and improve the high street.
‘ The scheme is engaged with by small local shops and larger stores. I am proud that my office contributes to such a scheme which has made a positive impact to the local town.’ His claim for the hanging basket will provoke further accusations about the probity of the Commons expenses regime.
Earlier this week, it emerged that in the decade since the MPs’ expenses scandal broke in 2009 the total annual bill has soared by 22 per cent to almost £120million.
Brecon and Radnorshire voters wanting to sign the petition to get rid of Mr Davies will be able to do so until June 20. A by-election will be held if 10 per cent of voters - 5,303 - sign. He would still be able to contest a by- election if one takes place.
Mr Davies is the third MP to face a recall petition, following one in northern Ireland and another in England.
Earlier this month, Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya was the first to be removed by a petition. More than a quarter of her constituents signed after she was jailed for lying about a speeding offence.
Yesterday IPSA chief Ruth Evans, said: ‘Ten years ago, the difficulty of having politicians self-regulate their pay and expenses became all too clear. It led to the establishment of IPS.
‘Since then, IPSA has established a clear set of rules for MPs to follow and enforced them fairly.’