Tory MP Suella Braverman claims £25,000 to pay household bills after 'milking loophole'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Suella Braverman has been accused of exploiting the system by claiming taxpayer's money to cover her household bills - while millions of Brits struggle afford their own.The Home Secretary claimed almost £25,000 in expenses over five years to pay for her energy usage and other costs, while living rent-free at her parent's house during visits to her constituency.Such financial aids were created to prevent MPs who live outside of London from falling into debt while running two homes, however an investigation by the Mirror found that Ms Braverman uses them to cover the household bills on her £1.2million family home in Bushey, Herts.Although her expenses do not go against the rules, the hardline Tory has been accused of taking advantage of loophole in the system.Ms Braverman, who earns £67,505 on top of her MP salary of £84,144, told watchdogs she “fully funds” the home she stays at in Fareham, Hants.

However, she failed to explain that the house is actually her parents - meaning she stays there rent-free.Former Committee on Standards in Public Life chairman Sir Alistair Graham said: “This looks like an attempt to game the rules to maximise benefit.

She says she ‘fully funds’ her constituency accommodation but does not reveal it is owned by her parents."Those are weasel words, she needs to explain what she means.“Is she manipulating the rules to strengthen her household income?

It has the smell of a conspiracy to do that.”Lib Dem Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain added: “If these reports are true, this would seem difficult to justify.