MPs scrap John Lewis list – and embrace Ikea

10:07am Thursday 17th July 2008

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MPs finally agreed yesterday to scrap the infamous “John Lewis list” for when they furnish their second homes – but they can still spend up to £2,400 a year on household goods.

They voted for a strict cap on kitchen equipment and electrical goods funded by the taxpayer, only two weeks after sparking public anger by refusing to reform their much-criticised expenses system.

But Labour MPs threw out a much tougher Conservative motion to ban any spending on furniture – thereby restricting it to utility bills, council tax and mortgage interest or rent.

It was defeated by 295 votes to 238.

Labour backbencher Rob Marris spoke for many when he protested: “I do not think my constituents expect me to live in an unfurnished bedsit. My constituents do not expect me to sleep on the floor.”

But Theresa May, the Conservative Shadow Leader of the House, taunted Labour MPs that they were “replacing the John Lewis list with the Ikea list”.

She said: “All they are offering is consultation on limiting taxpayer spending on furniture and household goods to £2,400. Taxpayers are sick of rules that allow MPs to buy TVs on the taxpayer.”

As part of the expenses war, all but seven Conservative MPs released a detailed breakdown of their allowances claims for the April-June period, under David Cameron’s Right To Know policy.

They revealed that the biggest spender in North Yorkshire was Ryedale MP John Greenway (£19,500), while the most frugal was Vale of York’s Anne McIntosh (£8,084.15).

But Ms McIntosh was the only one of the region’s MPs to make a claim for furniture – spending £1,300.

She could not be contacted for comment last night.

The breakdown also revealed big differences in the amount of money the MPs claimed for food over three months, ranging from Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill (£1,200) to Richmond’s William Hague (under £250).

Pressure to reform the allowances system has grown since the Derek Conway scandal. The Tory MP paid his son, Freddie, more than £40,000 over three years as a parliamentary researcher, despite him being a fulltime student in Newcastle.

There was further anger when husband and wife Tory MPs Sir Nicholas and Lady Ann Winterton claimed £21,600 a year to “rent” their second home – even though they had bought the flat and transferred it to a family trust.

Furthermore, MPs know that, because of recent Freedom of Information rulings, the public will be able to see details of all major purchases made in the future.

The package accepted yesterday will also introduce an element of independent scrutiny of MPs’ expenses, although well short of what was recommended by a recent review.

The National Audit Office will oversee the procedures for new internal checks on expenses claims, and approve new rules governing the allowances, but will not scrutinise the claims.

The notorious John Lewis list – based on prices at the department store – includes £10,000 for a kitchen, £6,000 for a bathroom, plasma televisions and other electrical goods, furniture and white goods.

The Government, led by the Prime Minister, instead proposed that claims for household goods be capped at ten per cent of the £24,000 Additional Costs Allowance.