MPs In £3.6m 'Back Door' Funding Scandal

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

MPs have spent more than £3.6 million of taxpayer money renting constituency offices from their political parties, it has emerged.

In a move that critics have slammed as "back door" funding of parties with public funds, politicians typically rent their offices from their local parties.

Figures released by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority today show that 244 MPs have such arrangements, while 477 do not.

Sir Ian Kennedy, the IPSA chair, said: "Many MPs hire offices for their staff to work in and in which to meet constituents. It is right that we support them to do so. But we also think it is in the public interest to publish where that money goes.

"Transparency is crucial to re-building trust in politics, and making sure public debate is built on a foundation of facts."

He said MPs are allowed to rent from political parties but if they do so they must provide "extra assurance" including an independent valuation to show the lease represents the market rate.

While individual leases were considered appropriate, he said IPSA were considering if the cumulative effect of the move meant it was time to "reconsider this aspect of the rules".

Critics have accused MPs of using the rent agreements as a way of subsidising campaigning.

Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative chairman of the Public Administration Committee, admitted there were risks. He told the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL): "There must be no impression that parliamentary expenses are being used as back door funding for political parties."

Among the 244 are Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who paid £8,700 to sub-let his office from his Sheffield Hallam Lib Dem party.

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