Today I read in the Daily Mail about Jaquie Smith's expenses. While her family lives in the West Midlands, she claims that her sister's house in London is her main residence and therefore her family home is a second home necessary because of her parliamentary duties.
Now, I'm wondering, if you were in business and made a similar claim - would the inland revenue accept it? or would they tell you where to get off and get real!!
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has claimed more than £116,000 in Commons expenses for a 'second home' while effectively lodging with her sister.
Ms Smith claims the maximum parliamentary second-home allowance, currently a tax-free £24,006 a year, on the detached house in her West Midlands constituency, where her husband and two young children live and which she bought for £300,000 five years ago.
She is able to do so because she has told the Commons authorities that her 'main home' is a house in London owned solely by her sister, Sara, where she stays on some weekdays.
Nor is this the only large expense caused by the Home Secretary's decision to share her sister's house.
Two policemen provide a round-the-clock guard at the South London property, costing taxpayers an estimated £200,000 a year. The two officers are stationed at the property on a shift basis.
There would have been no need for such protection had Ms Smith opted to live in one of two vacant grace-and-favour ministerial homes in Whitehall when she became Home Secretary in 2007 as they already have police protection.
READ MORE at:-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1138782/Expenses-row-Lodger-deal-earns-Jacqui-Smith-100-000-claims-sisters-house-main-home.html
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