Rishi Sunak warned MPs on Tuesday they would have to “justify” themselves to voters if they put Christmas party costs on expenses as a watchdog was told to ditch its “bonkers” guidance.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister would not reclaim any of his own spendings after a row over a new document setting out what could or could not be billed to the taxpayer over the festive period.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) confirmed in a circular last week that MPs are able to expense “the cost of food and drink for a festive office event” for staffers, whom they directly employ.
Refreshments can be provided as part of a constituency event as long as it is held “explicitly within a parliamentary context”.
MPs are also able to claim the costs of festive decorations for their office and Christmas cards, but Ipsa added that claims for alcohol and “purely social” constituency events will not be approved.
On Tuesday lunchtime, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “Questions on these sorts of arrangements are for Ipsa. They’re independent of both parliament and government, they set the allowances.
“But the Prime Minister certainly doesn’t intend to use this, and his view is that MPs will want to justify all spending to their constituents.”
Just want to say no one asked for this, no one I know will use it. The guidance wasn’t made by MPs and yet we will be pilloried for it. I think it’s really irresponsible to issue this guidance as if MPs have been clamouring for it when I’ve literally never heard anyone do that.
The Ipsa guidance stated MPs’ claims should “represent value for money, especially in the current economic climate”.
“[They] must be expressly parliamentary in nature, should not be party political, campaigning, or self-promotional.”
MPs across the Commons were quick to attack the guidance, which was first reported by the Daily Mail on Monday night.
James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, retweeted a post by Labour frontbencher Jess Phillips claiming Ipsa had been “really irresponsible”.
David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, told TalkTV it was “bonkers” and “missed the mood of the age”.
And Steve Baker, a minister for the Northern Ireland Office, wrote on Twitter: “I wouldn’t think for a moment of claiming for a staff Christmas party. What new hell is this?”
A spokesman for Ipsa said its rules “have not changed”, adding: “As employers, it is entirely appropriate that MPs should, if they see fit, reward their staff with a modest gathering at Christmas.
“We are clear that alcohol is not included, that any event must represent value for money, is subject to publication for transparency and must not be party political in nature. It must be funded within existing budgets.
“To suggest that there is anything inappropriate in this is simply incorrect.”
Source: The Telegraph
