Speaker: Bring in new expenses rules in full
- 00:01:32
- ITN
Speaker: Bring in new expenses rules in full
Commons Speaker John Bercow has denied accusations made in the Daily Telegraph that he ordered a £45,000 revamp of his grace-and-favour apartment in the Palace of Westminster. Soon after being elected Speaker in June, Mr Bercow announced that £20,000 was being spent on refurbishment of the historic apartment to make it suitable for a family with three young children. But the Daily Telegraph reported that documents released under the Freedom of Information Act showed that the true cost of the work was more than twice this sum, coming in at £45,581. The paper claims within days of Mr Bercow taking office on the 22nd of June, his wife Sally Bercow asked for a larger TV, a DVD player and wallpaper which would make the residence feel less like an office. He announced on taking office that he would no longer claim the MPs' second home allowance. And he has urged MPs to accept the recommendations of the Kelly review of allowances, in order to enable the Commons to regain the public trust lost in the expenses scandal.
ITN | November 15, 2009
