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Parliament publishes PM's home expenses
Former Irish Republican Army commander Brian Keenan was hailed as a pivotal figure in the peace process on Saturday before his remains were cremated at an emotional ceremony in Belfast.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:11 May 25, 2008
London: The House of Commons has released details of expenses claimed by 14 senior MPs, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, after giving up a legal battle to keep them secret.
Three boxes of documents were handed over to reporters in response to freedom of information requests made by three journalists. They relate to claims made under an allowance given to MPs to cover the running costs of their constituency home while staying in London to attend the House of Commons.
Some details in the documents released were blanked out, including the address of Brown's home in his Scottish constituency of Kirkaldy and Cowdenbeath.
Claims made by Brown included the cost of subscribing to Sky television, utility bills and £4,471 (Dh32,534) for refurbishing a kitchen.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair claimed more than £10,600 for a new kitchen at his home in County Durham, £515 to buy and fit a dishwasher, as well as interest payments on part of his £295,000 mortgage.
Opposition Leader David Cameron's claims were largely restricted to the interest payments on the £350,000 mortgage on his Chipping Norton home in Oxfordshire.
"Taxpayers should not be made to pay for Gordon Brown's Sky TV subscription or Tony Blair's £10,000 kitchen," said Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance.
Taxpayers should not be made to pay for Gordon Brown's Sky TV subscription or Tony Blair's £10,000 kitchen."
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