MP Connarty sets alarm bells ringing with expense claim
MP MICHAEL Connarty has defended claiming £250 for an alarm clock at his designated second home in London, saying MPs shouldn't be forced to "shop at 99p stores".
The Linlithgow and Falkirk East MP was at the centre of the expenses row this week after the Daily Telegraph published details from his claims.
Whilst sharing a flat owned by Glasgow South West Labour MP Ian Davidson, the pair racked up expenses totalling 2181 for household goods for their designated second homes.
This included 230 for bedding, a digital radio for 228.95, kitchen knives, a kettle and a set of scales worth 178.95 (all from John Lewis), an alarm clock radio costing 249.99, a Bose iPod docking station at 211.91, and 191.49 for headphones for the docking station.
He also claimed 1114.75 for a bed and frame, 600 of which was for a mattress for orthopaedic purposes as he has suffered a broken vertebrae and has a prolapsed disc.
Mr Connarty says most of the purchases were chosen by Mr Davidson and he claimed for them because he had agreed to help furnish the flat as a cost of living there.
According to the MP, the living arrangement and purchases were also cleared by the Commons' fees office beforehand.
The MP also defended the fact that he sold furnishings worth 4000 in his previous flat to Labour colleague Jim Devine after the Livingston MP took over the running of the one-bedroom property.
"I sold the flat to Jim very cheaply which I had been in since 1992, but the furniture was all mine," said Mr Connarty, speaking to the Herald & Post from Sweden on EU Committee business.
"All of the furniture in the flat was mine as I had replaced it several times over those years and I don't see why anyone has the right to question that.
"I was actually homeless until Ian bought his place and we agreed I could live with him until I found my own place.
"It was agreed that I would share the cost of the mortgage and that I would contribute to pay for furnishings in the flat. Ian bought them and I claimed for them and most of the stuff is still in Ian's flat.
"This was all pre-arranged with the fees office and all of the purchases I made were cleared in advance, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to buy them. Anything under 250 didn't require a receipt and none of these were objected to."
Mr Connarty said under parliamentary rules he was entitled to claim for anything in his designated second home which was comparable to what
Asked whether he thought 250 was excessive for a simple alarm clock, the MP replied: "We didn't set up this system. Some people think MPs shouldn't have anything, but where does that end? Are we only allowed to buy things from the 99p store?"
The Telegraph also revealed that Mr Connarty submitted an expense claim for 509.87 for a TV and Freeview box and claimed another 1099 for a plasma TV and 299 for a Panasonic TV stand, which the fees office paid 750 towards.
The MP added: "The large TV is still in Ian's flat like most of the other stuff. I only took the DAB radio as I'm a big jazz fan and he loves watching TV. We were like the Odd Couple in many ways really."
Other claims by Mr Connarty include 149 for a footstool and 649 for a sofa. This was delivered to his Falkirk home, which Mr Connarty says was more convenient, as his time at his London address was sporadic.
Mr Connarty revealed he will not allow public access to his expenses until they are published by Westminster officials in June or July.
Livingston MP Jim Devine, meanwhile, says he is considering publishing his early.
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