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Sarah Teather and Brent Liberal DemocratsWorking Hard for Brent |
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London Second Homes Victory Long Overdue - Teather
May 1, 2009 4:22 PM
Sarah Teather lives in Willesden Green and doesn't claim a second home allowance
Brent East's campaigning Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather is celebrating parliament's decision to finally axe second home allowances for London MPs.
Sarah lives in Willesden Green and has never claimed taxpayer's money for a second home. A high profile campaigner against the unfair allowances, she tabled a parliamentary motion calling for the second home cash to be scrapped for London MPs and has consistently spoken out for reform.
Meanwhile, Brent's Labour MPs have previously amended a House of Commons recommendation to allow themselves to carry on claiming the money.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for reform of the system for MPs across the whole country. Nick Clegg has written to Gordon Brown saying that MPs should not be able to profit through buying a second home, and should hand any money they have earned on property back to the taxpayer when they step down from parliament.
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, said:
"It's fantastic that London MPs have finally been forced to clean up their act. With so many people in Brent struggling to make ends meet it was grossly offensive to make taxpayers stump up tens of thousands of pounds so that London's Labour and Conservative MPs could enjoy two homes.
"I have never claimed money for a second home. I love living in Willesden Green and can easily travel to work alongside my constituents on the tube. Quite simply, I don't need a second home and it would have been wrong of me to pretend that I did.
"Sadly, it has taken Labour years to realise the corrosive effect of London second home allowances on politics and parliament. Only last Summer Labour MPs trooped through the lobby to defend the status quo and their recent conversion is a huge testament to pressure from the general public, the press, and all those who have campaigned on this issue.
"Now we must focus on changing the rules for the rest of the country as well. The government must accept that it is not right for any MPs to profiteer at the taxpayer's expense. Any money earned from property should be handed back as soon as an MP leaves parliament."
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