County MSPs claim £200,000 in expenses

Jun 11 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

LANARKSHIRE’S 11 MSPs claimed almost £200,000 of expenses in the financial year 2008/09.

East Kilbride constituency MSP Andy Kerr claimed the highest amount at £23,967.26, while the SNP’s list MSP John Wilson the lowest at £10,054.42.

The claims included expenses accrued in the running of constituency offices, travel, motor mileage and contributions to their party’s pool of research staff at Holyrood.

They do not include the hefty salaries’ bill for MSPs’ members of staff.

Figures covering staffing costs which MSPs have run up collectively are published at the end of each financial year.

A large proportion of many of the MSPs’ expenses claims involved car mileage for themselves and members of staff.

Central Scotland MSP Alex Neil ran up the highest mileage bill at £5330.32, followed by Hamilton North and Bellshill MSP Michael McMahon at £4245.48 and Hamilton South MSP Tom McCabe at £3895.

The total amount claimed for taxi journeys for all 11 MSPs came to £212.80.

Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Jack McConnell’s expenses totalled £22,582.49. The amount included a return ferry trip from Ardrossan to Brodick, on Arran, costing £62.95. He was brought up on a sheep farm on the island before embarking on a career in education and then politics.

A spokesman for Mr McConnell said this week: “Jack McConnell operates a busy shop-front office for constituents in Wishaw town centre, so his rental is high. He believes that is the best use of his office allowance.

“He also visits a couple of schools per month across Scotland as well as within the constituency. On the occasion mentioned Mr McConnell was opening a new school on Arran.”

The three Lanarkshire MSPs who made a claim under the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance were: Andy Kerr, £2976.70; Alex Neil, £2422.50 and Linda Fabiani £1586.39.

Central Scotland MSP Margaret Mitchell said the majority of her costs could be attributed to travel, staffing and running her constituency office. She claimed £8500 for her contribution to the Conservative staffing pool at Holyrood.

“I need to travel throughout my area which takes in 10 constituencies,” she said.

“I don’t qualify for Edinburgh accommodation and have to travel back and forth.

“And I have a Hamilton office which I couldn’t do without due to the volume of work that I get from constituents. It’s important to me as an MSP that people can come in with their concerns.”

Central Scotland MSP Alex Neil said this week: “The MSPs who work hardest are the ones with the most expenses.

“People who know me know the amount of surgeries I hold. Each one gets an average of 12 people.

“Not a penny of my expenses goes into my own pocket. All my spending is in the service of my constituents.”

Mr Neil, who lives in Ayr, pointed out that if he used hotel accommodation in Edinburgh instead of a flat in the city, the costs would be far higher.

“I have had the same flat for 10 years. If I had to stay in an Edinburgh hotel it would cost the taxpayer twice as much as my flat costs,” explained.

“I have used about two-thirds of the £11,900 Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance.”

The amount claimed by Lanarkshire MSPs - who each earn a salary of £55,381 - totals £193,198.81, and is as follows:

Aileen Campbell, SNP (South of Scotland) £13,858.25; Linda Fabiani, SNP (Central Scotland) £13,983.94; Karen Gillon, Labour (Clydesdale) £16,874.91; Andy Kerr, Labour (East Kilbride) £23, 967.26; Tom McCabe, Labour (Hamilton South) £14,118.79; Jack McConnell, Labour (Motherwell and Wishaw) £22,582.49; Michael McMahon, Labour (Hamilton North and Bellshill) £19,879.13; Margaret Mitchell, Conservative (Central Scotland) £19, 514.52; Alex Neil, SNP (Central Scotland) £22,729.22; Hugh O’Donnell, Liberal Democrat (Central Scotland) £15,635.88 and John Wilson, SNP (Central Scotland) £10,054.42.

Jack McConnell

Margaret Mitchell

Alex Neil

Andy Kerr

Tom McCabe