Forum Topic

Ann Keen to claim for £54, 403 more of taxpayers' money ?

According to tonight's Evening Standard, a study by the Taxpayers' Alliance has revealed that former Brentford and Isleworth MP, Ann Keen may be eligible to claim a resettlement grant of up to £54,403. On leaving the Commons, MP's are eligible for a resettlement grant of up to one year's salary, depending on their age and years of service, of which the first £30,000 is paid tax free. Ann Keen was an MP for 13 years,  from 1997 to 2010.The Standard points out that Ann Keen was criticised, along with her husband Alan Keen MP, for claim for the cost of a flat near Parliament even though they had a constituency home just nine miles away.The Standard says that most MP's are believed to claim this grant but some have in the past declined to accept it.I wonder if Ann Keen will claim for a resettlement grant ?

David Giles ● 5807d7 Comments

When David are the Condems going to stop pretending that they found things worse than they expected and blaming the Labour Party for a global financial problem ?I think most intelligent people recognise that all this talk of everyone having to make sacrifices will not apply to the banks or the super wealthy who will still avoid paying tax by taking their money out of the country.Indeed in many ways the deficit will allow the Tories the excuse they need for making the cuts in public spending they have long planned to.Naturally the weak, old and poor will suffer most,Why Ann Keen needs to apologise to her former constituents when she had to pay back less than your Prime Minister did for claiming to have his clematis removed from the walls of his own house I don't know !!!!He certainly hasn't apologised to me.The only difference was he knew it was a false claim and paid it back at once when it was made public whereas Ann thought, wrongly as it turned out, that she was entitled to the £750 she was required to pay back.Ann worked hard for her constituents and cared for those with real problems, one can only hope that the new MP for B&I does as well.Time will tell and some of us will be watching with great interest.I am sure Vanessa will have even more to add.

Sandy Andrews ● 5802d

VanessaWhen is the Labour Party going to apologise for running up a deficit of over £150 billion ?When is Ann Keen going to apologise to her former constituents ?

David Giles ● 5806d

Blah, blah, blah, the elections are over can we please now have some peace. Truth be told they were all as bad as one another and yes they will most of them take their golden handshakes and bugger off into the sunset.

Vanessa Smith ● 5806d

TonyIf charity begins at home, then Ann Keen is much closer to home than the others you mentioned.The Conservative Party did not allow Andrew Mackay, Julie Kirkbride,Sir Peter Viggers or Douglas Hogg to stand again.However the Labour Party did allow the Keens and other discredited MP's to stand again. One of them was re-elected and is now facing criminal charges.

David Giles ● 5807d

"Ann Keen could redeem her reputation by declining to apply for the grant as I understand other MP's have done in the past."  I think charity should begin at home David,how about the other Mr and (not) Mrs.Expenses Andrew Mackay and Julie Kirkbride (up for £97,000),or Sir Peter Duckpond-Viggers,or Douglas de Moat-Hogg? Can't you use your powers of persuation?   Get them to lead from the front through the financial straits we find ourselves in.

Tony Wood ● 5807d

Ann Keen could redeem her reputation by declining to apply for the grant as I understand other MP's have done in the past.

David Giles ● 5807d

Well if she does claim it, she'll be doing what most of your party's MPs do.

Robin Taylor ● 5807d