The UK’s highest earning MPs claim the highest amount in energy bills for second homes on expenses, Byline Times can reveal
In 2022, 64 MPs pocketed more than £20,000 from second jobs each, while also charging taxpayers an average of £900 per claim each to pay the heating and electricity bills in their second homes.
When the 33 MPs were added who served as Government ministers rather than outside roles, who earn tens of thousands of pounds on top of their base MP salary, the average rises to £952.
Overall, British taxpayers have paid tens of thousands of pounds to cover the cost of powering and heating MPs’ second homes in London. Beneficiaries included MPs earning hundreds of thousands of pounds in second jobs such as lobbyists and advisors for outside interests.
In April 2022, openDemocracy revealed that British MPs have charged taxpayers £420,000 for energy bills in their second homes over the last three years.
Among then-serving Cabinet ministers, Matt Hancock made the most cost of living claims in 2021-2022, calling on the British taxpayer to fund £34,242 worth of second home costs, including £3496 in energy bills, the third highest amount in all of parliament.
The only MPs to claim more on utility bills than the former Health Secretary are backbench Tory Stuart Anderson, who claimed £3768, and Labour MP Liam Byrne, who claimed £3723. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, meanwhile, claimed £2881 from taxpayers to pay her energy bills last year.
As for Rachel Reeves herself, in the 2018/19-2022/23 financial period, she claimed £3215.34 in energy claims.
It’s painful to see such duplicity on the part of the UK Government. I wonder how they will vote on Thursday about doing away with winter fuel allowance for ALL pensioners?
They are not feeling the pain, are they?
5/9/2024
Are MPs wasting taxpayers money?
MPs’ claims for gas, electricity and water amounted to £292,000 in 2022-23, according to an analysis of data from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA)
With the majority of MPs who have second homes in London claiming energy costs between 3 -4k a year, you have to wonder what are they heating, the street? A mansion? They are certainly not concerned with the cost of living crisis. No poor MPs remember!
There is no incentive to be ‘energy conscious ’ as the vast majority of the British are, because they are not paying the bills, we are! How on earth can they run up energy bills to this extent? Do they heat the property all day, every day, despite the long and arduous hours they claim to work, to midnight sometimes, when it would appear they spend relatively few hours at the second home.
As a pensioner, likely to lose the winter fuel allowance, and not eligible to claim pension credit, I am very energy conscious. My boiler, which provides heating and hot water, is only switched on every other day, overnight!, for hot water only. Even so, my bills average £80 a month. My heating is not on at all, because I simply don’t have money to pay for it. I put on extra clothes, a hat, and will snuggle on the sofa with my dogs under a duvet or throw. I have the windows open when I can for air flow, because damp and mould is a massive concern when living with COPD.
Please sign and share this petition to spread awareness of this issue. Stand up to this flagrant abuse of public money and help to ensure that help for energy costs goes where it is needed.
Are MPs more important than pensioners?
When Keir Starmer was campaigning in May 2024, he met a number of pensioners and after talking to them he said pensioners deserve security in retirement and that’s what the Labour government would deliver.
Well, we all know how that’s going. As for claiming ‘pension credit’ it appears from the Government’s published eligibility criteria, to claim that, anyone on a full stare pension, of £221 a week is over the threshold for pension credit of £218, so not able to claim it. https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility
We all have much loved elderly people in our lives, please fight for them and sign and share the petition. They are trying really hard to freeze pensioners this winter, but MPs must be kept warm! Really? Does anyone know a poor MP?
If you are able to afford a few pounds to help promote it, that would be great, but is entirely optional.
We are currently at 180 signatures, let’s boost that number, please sign and share it with friends and family.
How much did your MP claim in expenses for energy bills?
A little research online revealed shocking figures on just how much MPs have claimed for energy expenses on second homes. You can go onto the IPSA website, which enables you to check any MPs claims. https://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-staffing-business-costs/your-mp
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) confirmed to Full Fact that there is no upper limit on how much MPs can claim back on heating and fuel costs.
https://fullfact.org/online/MPs-no-upper-limit-heating-expenses/
Full Fact fights for the right information to reach the people who need it most.
Open democracy revealed that British MPs have charged taxpayers £420,000 for energy bills in their second homes over the last three years despite MPs’ wages continuing to rise. That’s equivalent to over 2000 pensioners receiving £200 winter fuel allowance.
open Democracy is an independent international media platform.
I am a pensioner, having worked hard for over four decades, contributing to our nation's National Insurance and paying taxes faithfully. Although fortunate enough to have a small work pension supplementing my state one, I can still barely meet the necessary - managing bills, keeping my car on the road, and putting food on the table. Like many pensioners I expect, my works pension takes me over the threshold for pension credits, and it is taxed!
Times are hard, and I see many pensioners in similar circumstances. It is disgraceful and, frankly, unfair to see Members of Parliament, equipped with a substantial salary, continuing to receive their winter fuel allowance for second homes, while many pensioners struggle to warm their only home. I wonder whether the winter fuel allowance for MPs is means tested, as it will be for pensioners under this government. One rule for me and another for thee?
MPs, particularly those serving as ministers, often secure two salaries and allowances for various expenses. Given that an MP's average salary is over £80,000, nearly three times the average UK worker’s wage, their receipt of additional perks raises questions [Source: Office of National Statistics, 2021]. The winter fuel allowance, originally intended to help those in real need, like struggling pensioners, should be reallocated to those who truly need it, not to the well-paid and insulated MPs.
Let us call upon the UK Government to rethink their policies and reinstate the winter fuel allowance for struggling pensioners, whilst eliminating the, frankly, greedy winter fuel allowance for MPs' second homes.
Join me - sign the petition to fight for fairness and justice for pensioners. Make your voices heard!
Contribute if you can to help promote this petition.
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Eliminate Winter Fuel Allowance for MPs' Second Homes
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