Andy "Hoon" Burnham....involved in a secret eight-month battle with the fees office after making a single expenses claim for more than £16,500 to buy and renovate a new London flat.The authorities finally agreed to pay the money — after rejecting the claim on three separate occasions — following a series of increasingly desperate pleas from the minister and his wife.
Shortly before Christmas 2005, Mr Burnham even wrote to the fees office that he “might be in line for a divorce” if reimbursement for his expenses was not forthcoming within days.
He submitted a detailed breakdown of the expenses associated with obtaining and renovating the flat, £16,644 in total, which he was proposing that the taxpayer should fund.
These costs included £1,845 for a new kitchen, legal fees of £822 and £2,150 for stamp duty.
This was part of a long-running dispute over Mr Burnham’s complicated expenses. An analysis of his expenses for the financial year 2005-06 show that his claims were rejected repeatedly.
The delays caused by the uncertain situation resulted in financial difficulties for the Burnham family.
“I would be very grateful,” Mr Burnham wrote to the fees office in December 2005, “If [the expenses] could be paid in the last round of the year on Friday. Otherwise, I might be in line for divorce!”
His wife, Marie-France van Heel, from the Netherlands, was also in frequent communication with the fees office during this period.
On June 5 2006, the fees office refused to pay a claim that covered both the mortgage interest on the Lambeth flat and on the constituency home, because to do so would breach the rules. On June 15, the fees office refused another claim because Mr Burnham submitted a claim for his entire mortgage costs — including repaying capital. Again, the rules clearly state that MPs may only reclaim the interest on a mortgage.
On June 5 2006, the fees office refused to pay a claim that covered both the mortgage interest on the Lambeth flat and on the constituency home, because to do so would breach the rules. On June 15, the fees office refused another claim because Mr Burnham submitted a claim for his entire mortgage costs — including repaying capital. Again, the rules clearly state that MPs may only reclaim the interest on a mortgage.
Mr Burnham’s £215,000 taxpayer-funded flat is now worth an estimated £240,000.
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2 people have spoken:
Good to know Andy has a rock solid marriage that isn't based on love not money!
The bit about richer or poorer sure dont apply to communist New Labour filth MP's.
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