Details of MPs' expenses have been published this afternoon after MPs gave up on attempts to keep the information secret.The details were distributed to journalists and the high court at 16:00 BST, marking the end of a three-year freedom of information battle by MPs to keep the contents secret.
They have already revealed that as British troops marched to war in Iraq in March 2003 Tony Blair was buying a £6,500 kitchen with taxpayers' money.Gordon Brown spent £4,471 on his new kitchen, Peter Mandelson spent £3,000 re-plastering his second home and David Cameron spent £21,359 on rent between April 2005 and March 2006, the lengthy documentation shows.
MPs' attempts to keep their expenses private finally collapsed last week, when the high court order for the information to be released by 16:00 BST this afternoon.The information includes any additional costs allowance the MPs claimed towards their second homes.
The Commons gave up the fight on Monday after last week's high court tribunal ruling went against them.
MPs had argued the inclusion of their home address constituted a security threat, and where there is concern for individual security the address will not be published.The list of 14 MPs also includes David Cameron, the Tory leader, and Sir Menzies Campbell, former Liberal Democrat leader.
SOURCE
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