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.”
