Ayrshire MP in the hot seat

Jun 5 2009 by Lisa Boyle

AN AYRSHIRE MP has come under fire over his expenses.

But Brian Donohoe maintains he has done nothing wrong.

The Daily Telegraph has slammed the Ayrshire Central MP for purchasing a three piece suite for his one bedroom flat in London.

He claimed back £2575 for the three-seat sofa and two double-seaters – £75 more than the maximum.

But the fees office did not challenge Mr Donohoe on the overspend.

Mr Donohoe said: “That was the fault of the fees office. They should have come back to me and made me aware of it and I would have paid the difference. But they say they didn’t want to seem petty.”

The Telegraph also pointed out that the invoice address was his Ayrshire home.

However, last week Mr Donohoe showed the Ayrshire Post the invoice for the sofa.

Although the address for the bill was sent to Mr Donohoe’s Ayrshire address, the delivery address was his second home near Westminster.

Mr Donohoe purchased the sofa in Ayr – supporting his local economy – and told us that the same sofa would have been more expensive to buy in London.

Mr Donohoe’s expenses for the last five years are now available on his website.

Meanwhile, Sandra Osborne, Labour MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, has given an insight into her expense claims.

In 2008/09 she claimed £16,601 for her second home allowance. Most of that was on rent, which came to £15,048. The rest was spent on council tax and subsistence.

Mrs Osborne said: “From 2004/08 my claims covered mainly rent and council tax on my unfurnished flat, furnishings and household goods and food/subsistence.

“I made a nil claim for furnishings etc in 2008/09.

“I rent an unfurnished flat in London within reach of the House of Commons.

“The flat was originally owned by a charitable trust but was sold by Westminster Council two or three years ago, at which time I was offered around £14,500 to relinquish my lease.

“I did not accept as I did not think it would be right and I would then have had to move to another flat with a much higher rent.

“I therefore have retained a lease which includes a preserved rent until 2030, long after I am gone. When I finish my time as an MP I will simply hand back the keys and walk away with no financial gain.”