Erewash MP Jessica Lee says she has 'nothing to hide' in row over London flat

“Caught out. Admit it and pay back your allowance. You should prepare to receive an New Years Honour in 2013 like Mrs Beckett did after claiming £600 for her hanging baskets and thought she had done nothing wrong and was duly rewarded. MP's forget they have been elected by us taxpayers.”

“Seems someone is piling on the pounds in more ways than 1!”

“Oops! The first 'the' is redundant.”

“This is why the members of the public regard MPs as being out of touch. Add to this the crassness (or is it just plain arrogance?) of continuing such an arrangement after the storm of the expenses scandal and one wonders at the level of intelligence of this person representing the good people of Erewash.”

“make_redgreen

I think what she means if she lived alone, and the other flatmate lived alone, they'd be heating 2 flats. Which costs more than heating one larger shared flat. Same with consumption of electricity for the lights and TV in common areas etc etc.

Other than that, either sell the London flat or move into it.”

“Firstly, she needs to go on a diet.

After that, the figures don't add up:

"I flat-share with another MP when at Parliament in London. The benefit to the tax payer on this point is that I can split the utility bills with my flat-mate, saving hundreds of pounds each year."

Flatshare with another MP, who also claims expenses?

So the fact you pay less utility bills, personally, benefits the tax payer???? Or do you claim them as well and think that as you only claim half, and you're colleague the other half, that somehow the taxpayer pays less overall???!

Bamfookinboozled here. Mind, that's MP's for you, constant drivel and twaddle.”

“Could Telegraph publish what other MPs bill taxpayers for? What does Maragaret Beckett, Chris Williamson, Pauline Latham pay in rent? Do they rent out a London property while renting somewhere else?”

“I hope her constituents do ask her for detailed explanantions of her expenses. MPs have allowances to run 2 homes - one in the constituency (her website gives an address in Long Eaton) and one within reasonable reach of Westminister.”

“She says bills are split with the flate mate, so if she is paying £1400 a month, the monthly rent is £2800?
For that you can rent a "stunning 4 bed house in Ealing". http://tinyurl.com/azoatwo Ealing Broadway is on District line like Westminister so easy commute in London terms.
Does she need a 4 bed house? Or is she renting a super luxury 2 bed flat or one right next to her workplace - because if so, I think she is being unrealistic.
Or does she mean only utility bills are split 50:50 - if so why? The flatmate should be paying rent - is tge tax payer subsidising a flatmate?”

“She says she can't run 2 homes at once .. is she saying she doesn't have a home in the constituency? MPs get paid to have 2 homes to do their job properly. If she is saying 2 homes aren't necessary then we could take all the allowances off MPs ...”