Esther McVey demands thousands of dollars in rent – even though congressman’s husband owns apartment nearby

A government minister tasked with identifying wasteful government spending has been charging taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds to rent a flat in London, even though her MP husband owns a property nearby.

Esther McVey has received more than £30,000 of taxpayers’ money over the past two years to rent the flat she lives in with her husband Phillip Davies, the Shipley MP.

Ms McVeigh, who represents Tatton and was appointed as a “common sense” minister last year, is paid £86,584 as an MP but will receive thousands more in extra income as a result of her role as Cabinet Office minister without a portfolio GBP.

She and her husband have reportedly been claiming expenses on a property in Westminster since 2017. daily telegraph and campaign groups led by donkeys.

Reports say Mr Davis owns a property in Waterloo, about a 25-minute walk away. The property is let and the councilor claims it has an annual income of more than £10,000.

Davies, who has also made thousands of pounds from media work over the past two years, said he would have been happy to continue claiming mortgage payments for the flat he owned “but I don’t have that option”.

MPs can no longer seek mortgage payments from taxpayers after the rules changed in 2009 after the fees scandal.

The couple did not break any rules, but their arrangement raised questions about value for money, especially given Ms McVeigh’s role at the highest levels of government responsible for tackling wasteful spending.

Ms. McVeigh calls herself a low-tax supporter of Margaret Thatcher and often complains about “big government.” daily mail Last year she “didn’t want you to see a penny of your hard-earned money wasted on unnecessary public spending”.

As Cabinet Office minister, her responsibilities include delivering on government priorities and ensuring effective communication of Downing Street objectives.

Ms McVey, who served as secretary of state for work and pensions from January to November 2018, also earned thousands of pounds from her media work.

February she told UK news She has written to independent government agencies asking them to spend more efficiently.

“We want to make sure there’s no waste… You can’t pay taxpayers’ bills and ask the government for more money without eliminating wasteful spending,” she said.

Mr Davies told Led By Donkeys: “If I owned the flat outright and I could live there without paying anything then I would agree that I should do that, but it’s not fundamental to my circumstances. not applicable.

“I understand that all workplaces cover the cost of accommodation for workers away from home and to my surprise… [you] …think this shouldn’t be the case anymore. Of course, this would result in only the richest people in the country being able to become members of Congress. “

Ms McVeigh has been contacted for comment.