MPs on £70,000 expense spending spree in run up to general election

Parliament faces fresh scrutiny as a private watchdog reveals that 60 MPs went on an expense spending spree totalling over £70,000 in the run up to the general election.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) raised concerns on the amount spent by MPs on iPads, iPhones, laptops and various other gadgets, sending letters to Parliament asking for clarification that these items were being used exclusively for their duties.

The report sparked fierce criticism from Sir Alistair Graham, former Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, saying: “It still seems to show it’s difficult to trust MPs on expenses matters. They seem to want to stretch the rules beyond what they were intended to provide.”