Speaker's wife 'allowed to spend public cash on taxis'
Published Date:
15 May 2008
By Daniel Bentley
THE wife of Michael Martin, the Commons Speaker, is allowed to spend thousands of pounds a year on taxis to go shopping for the couple's groceries, it emerged yesterday.
Mary Martin's £2,500 allowance was set up six years ago because of the pressures on her husband's time.
The expenses claims – charged to the taxpayer – are defended by the House of Commons on the grounds that they support Mr Martin in his official role.
The Speaker's office previously claimed Mrs Martin was shopping for official functions. But in an interview with the Parliamentary sleaze watchdog, Mr Martin disclosed that the provisions were consumed by the couple, although they "were also used for hospitality".
The Speaker's evidence emerged as John Lyon, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, cleared Mr Martin following a complaint about the taxi trips.
Mr Lyon said the claims – amounting to £4,139.17 since 2004 – were "reasonable" and within the rules.
The full article contains 162 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
14 May 2008 9:53 PM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
Politicians' expenses
