Will Sinn Fein repay money on London flats?
12 August 2009
Responding to the news that Sinn Fein/IRA MPs will not be renewing leases on two London flats TUV leader Jim Allister said:
“Back in April I wrote to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police inviting him to investigate the possible abuse of parliamentary allowances by Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, Michelle Gildernew, Pat Doherty and Conor Murphy. I directed his attention to the scale of claims made by the Republican MPs in respect of the London Living Allowance.
“I did so because when an MP spends only a few hundred pounds travelling to London in a year but claims many thousands under the "London living allowance", it suggests that something odd is afoot.
“I have been assured by the Metropolitan Police that my concerns are being considered by their officers.
“Conor Murphy’s revelation today that his party will not be renewing its leases on the two flats would suggest that even Sinn Fein now recognize that the claims were an abuse of taxpayer’s money. Sinn Fein of course should go much further and pay back to the taxpayer these unwarranted claims and HMG should ensure such can never happen again by ending the scandal of those who refuse to take their seats being able to claim any expenses.”
