Sunak: MPS must justify Christmas knees-up expenses to voters

RISHI SUNAK warned MPS yesterday that they would have to “justify” themselves to voters if they expensed Christmas party costs, as a watchdog was told to ditch its “bonkers” guidance.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister would not reclaim any of his own expenses after a row over a new document setting out what could or could not be billed to the taxpayer over the festive period.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) confirmed in a circular last week that MPS are able to expense “the cost of food and drink for a festive office event” for their staff, whom they directly employ.

Refreshments can be provided as part of a constituency event as long as it is held “explicitly within a parliamentary context”. MPS can also claim the costs of festive decorations for their office and Christmas cards, but Ipsa said that claims for alcohol and “purely social” constituency events will not be approved.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “Questions on these sorts of arrangements are for Ipsa. They’re independent of both Parliament and Government, they set the allowances. But the Prime Minister certainly doesn’t intend to use this, and his view is that MPS will want to justify all spending to their constituents.”

The Ipsa guidance stated MPS’ claims should “represent value for money, especially in the current economic climate”. MPS were quick to attack the guidance, which was first reported by the Daily Mail on Monday night. James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, retweeted a post by Labour frontbencher Jess Phillips claiming Ipsa had been “really irresponsible”.

A spokesman for Ipsa said its rules “have not changed”, adding: “As employers, it is entirely appropriate that MPS should, if they see fit, reward their staff with a modest gathering at Christmas.

“We are clear that alcohol is not included, that any event must represent value for money, is subject to publication for transparency and must not be party political in nature. It must be funded within existing budgets.

“To suggest that there is anything inappropriate in this is simply incorrect.”