The Lib Dem MP for freebies, jolly trips and making the taxpayers pay....Alan Reid, the Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll and Bute, put through bills for 30 overnight stays in seaside towns and lochside villages over four years, many during the parliamentary summer recess.One year the MP, who is his party’s spokesman for Scotland and Northern Ireland, was told that he was not allowed to use public funds to pay for hotel rooms within his constituency, but the following year he submitted receipts for further stays in the same places and was paid in full.
In 2004-05 Mr Reid lived in Dunoon, within his constituency, and did not claim for a second home.
Instead, he used his Additional Costs Allowance to pay for £8,450.09 of hotels, mostly while he stayed in London after working in Westminster.His bill also included claims, for which he was reimbursed, for overnight stays in 11 B&Bs and hotels in his constituency.
Since then he has designated a house in Cardross, also within his constituency, as his second home and claimed £5,253.90 in mortgage interest payments and £3,551.23 in council tax.
However he has continued to charge taxpayers for his stays in pretty fishing towns within Argyll and Bute. He says his unusual claims are a result of the geography of his constituency which includes several islands and areas which are more easily accessible by ferries than by road.
However he has continued to charge taxpayers for his stays in pretty fishing towns within Argyll and Bute. He says his unusual claims are a result of the geography of his constituency which includes several islands and areas which are more easily accessible by ferries than by road.
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