MP John Reid claimed for £30 toilet seat

May 13 2009 by Richard Mooney, Wishaw Press

MP John Reid’s £30 allowance claim for a black, glittering toilet seat has been branded “absurd”, “bizzare” and “petty” by the Taxpayer’s Alliance.

The Airdrie and Shotts MP claimed for £8890 of taxpayers’ money whilst refurbishing his house between 2004 and 2006.

Leaked receipts show that the 61-year-old MP spent £1328 on tiles and £2387 on a Homebase bathroom suite, which included the £30 black glitter toilet seat.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “There is no way that taxpayers should have to buy such petty things as toilet seats or other household items for MPs.

“Parliamentarians earn three times the average salary.

“If they want bizarre bathroom furnishings, they can pay for them themselves.

“It is this kind of absurd claim that makes ordinary, hard-working people feel totally taken for granted by politicians.”

The Celtic chairman claimed for a £199 pouffe, a £370 armchair and a £899 sofa for his new flat in Glasgow last year.

Dr Reid, who claimed £160,209 in allowances between April 2007 and March 2008, also submitted a £486.50 Marks and Spencers shopping receipt.

While living in Motherwell, he claimed £685.84 for Rentokil rodent termination services in June 2004.

Dr Reid said: “When I moved, after staying in the same constituency home for over 21 years, all legitimate costs were approved and were within the rules of the House of Commons authorities.”

Between April 2007 and March 2008, he claimed £14,284 in travel expenditure and £145,925 in main allowances.

On the MPs’ Register of Interests, it also shows that Dr Reid earned between £45,000 and £50,000 from security firm G4S UK and, according to Celtic plc figures, around £35,000 for his position within the football club.

The former Cabinet Minister also earned between £5000 and £10,000 for a speech to the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors in Leeds last June, as well as two undisclosed amounts in rental income from a flat in London and his business, John Reid Advisory Ltd.

For travel allowances, Dr Reid claimed nothing for mileage for journeys between his home, constituency and Westminster, but did spend £1300 in rail travel and £8560 in flights, £1467 for ten journeys made by his wife and £2957 for 21 journeys made by employees.