Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall claimed £15,000 in laundry bills and dry cleaning

May 21 2009 by Dave Goodban, Chester Chronicle

WEAVER Vale MP Mike Hall has hit back at critics after it was revealed he splashed out almost £15,000 of taxpayers’ money on laundry and cleaning.

The parliamentary representative (Lab) claimed £14,948 over three years for cleaning his second home in Kennington and for his clothes to be laundered and ironed, according to a Sunday Telegraph exposé.

In 2005/06 Mr Hall, dubbed ‘the cleanest MP in Westminster’, claimed £5,194 towards his cleaning bills. The figure fell to £4,346 in 2006/07 before rising to £5,408 last year.

He claimed between £100-£200 every month on ‘cleaning’, and a further £110 a month on dry cleaning, laundry and ironing.

He also submitted monthly claims for up to £250 for ‘household sundries’ such as toilet tissue, air fresheners and bin bags.

Mr Hall, who is paid an annual salary of £60,675, did not need any proof of his expenditure as only claims above £250, other than for food, had to be backed by an invoice or receipt.

As well as his cleaning expenditure, he claimed:

Almost £10,000 on proactive work including holding tea and coffee morning throughout his constituency.

Around £7,000 on post and official stationery.

Between £240 and £310 a month for food.

A repair bill of £620 to fix a dangerous and hazardous back step in the back yard of his second home.

Mr Hall, 56, claimed a total of £228,646 for the financial year 2007/08.

This week he told the Chronicle: “I fully understand the anger and concern about claims made by MPs. I take my responsibilities very seriously and offer an excellent service to constituents.”