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HAZEL BLEARS' EXPENSES
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BLOODY HELL HAZEL!!!
The full extent of Hazel Blears' expenses are revealed today…That's Hazel Blears, MP for Salford, one of the most deprived areas in Europe. They include £1,000 a month mortgage on a flat in London, £200 on bath towels…hundreds of pounds on a posh hotel, £1,773 on two TVs in less than a year – oh and £8518 in `Communications'…shame she couldn't afford a stamp to reply to our letter six months ago!
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Even the gravy train itself would get embarrassed about Hazel Blears' expenses over the last five years, paid for by public money of course.
The story begins in March 2004 when she stated that her second home was in Salford and bought a tv set and video recorder from Selfridges for £850 and a mattress from Marks and Sparks for £651. The mortgage on that property was £300. But the next month, according to today's Daily Telegraph, she suddenly changed track and stated that a flat in Kensington was her second home, claiming £850 a month for the mortgage.
In August 2004 she sold it for £200,000, and during September and October that year stayed in London hotels, including a really posh one called Zetter where rooms cost £211 a night.
In December 2004 Hazel bought another London flat for £300,000 with a monthly mortgage of £1000, while she also claimed £400 at that time for groceries. That's three different houses in a year. Over the next four months our MP spent £4,874 on furniture, £899 on a new bed and £913 on yet another tv. In March 2006 Hazel spent a further £668 on curtains and sheets, £439 on kitchen equipment and £200 on bath towels.
What the tax payers need to know is - where did she find the time to do so much shopping? And, never mind Selfridges and Marks, what's wrong with Salford Precinct?
During the years 2006-2008 Hazel was the joint champion of claiming `Additional Costs Allowances' with a whopping £45,193 claimed, while she also spent £26,240 on travel between Salford and London (including eight return trips and one single trip for her husband Michael at a cost of £2,615.85).
Altogether, over the last five years, Hazel has claimed £694,462, an average of nearly £140,000 a year, in travel, second homes, staff, office costs etc. That's on top of the salary of £141,866 a year she's entitled to claim as a Minister and MP.
Last year, for instance, Hazel spent £92,407 on staff, £8,518 on `Communications', and £3,382 on `Associated Postage Costs'. What happened to the reply to our letter, that we sent in good faith as her constituents?
We were going to send Hazel a first class stamp to reply to our letter, in case she couldn't afford it. But now she can fuck right off.
Empowering the community, my arse, she's been empowering her powder room…
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The figures quoted for household expenses are reported in today's Daily Telegraph
A spokesperson for Hazel Blears said "All Hazel Blears' claims for allowances are in line with the rules, and have been approved by the fees office. To do her job as MP for Salford, she has to have accommodation in London to be near the House of Commons. This accommodation includes a bed with a mattress, blankets and pillows, and a television."
For a history of our letter to Hazel see here and click on the associated links.
See Hazel's Expenses Part 3 here
See Hazel's Expenses Part 2 here
UPDATED 11th December 2009
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mcdonalds coupons wrote
at 11:30:44 AM on Monday, September 14, 2009 |
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| Thank you very much for that informational entry. |
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Jacqueline Martin wrote
at 1:26:46 AM on Saturday, June 20, 2009 |
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| My parents have worked hard all their lives and saved- just like my husband and I have. To read about Hazel Blears and all her thieving makes me so angry. When we sold our house in Wales and rehoused in Scotland, the solicitor wanted to know all about where we had got our money from!!!!! It was from hard work and paying our taxes etc. not like Mrs. Blears. She keeps going on about being made a scapegoat. I hope she will be de-selected. |
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Mary Tyson wrote
at 10:38:50 AM on Friday, June 19, 2009 |
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| The money they claim for all manner of things is from the public purse IE.tax payers.From pensioners, low wage earners on minimum wage eecking out a living, small businesses fighting to survive.They dip in and help themselves from duck houses to moat cleaning,paying mortgages that don't exist remember their names all of them and their queen HAZEL BLEARS. |
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P MERRY wrote
at 10:38:30 AM on Friday, June 19, 2009 |
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| IT JUST GO TO SHOW HOW OUT OF TOUCH MP ARE WITH THE REAR WORLD THEY LIE AND CHEAT THE PUBLIC AND THINK IT IS OK , THE POLICE SHOULD GET INVOLED AND BRING CRIMINAL CHARGES TO THESE PEOPLE , THE SOONER THESE MP ARE ARRESTED AND JAILED , THE PUBLIC MAY START TO BELIVE MP ARE WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE AND NOT JUST LINING THERE POCKETS |
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J Kenney wrote
at 7:02:12 AM on Friday, June 19, 2009 |
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| All these Mp's who abused the system should be held on trail for misappropriation of funds, malfeasance and abuse of the expense systems! If we the public did this, we would be held accountable. Since the MP's are being paid to serve the public, then they should have not caused this problem and should not be only held accountable, but I personally feel they should have civil and possible criminal actions against them! After all we have to obey the law! What is their excuse? |
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Fred Armathwaite wrote
at 12:31:53 PM on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 |
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| Surely the real ambarassment for Hazel Blears -- aside from the small matter of fraud -- is that she was caught living like a lady in London, while professing to be a Socialist in Salford. Let me tell you that properties in Shad Thames do not come cheap. And the hotel she chose is one of the most luxurious in the capital. I'm sure Salford's voters will do the right thing when the general election comes! |
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Issy wrote
at 5:23:42 AM on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 |
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| I have just looked at Ms B's website and she is claiming that when she became a minister in 2001 the fees office INSISTED that she designate her London flat as her main residence. I can't find anything to confirm or refute this. Can anyone else? I am not sympathetic to her nor to her excessive claims but does this mean that when she sells her Salford home she will also fall liable to CGT? |
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Kelly McFarland wrote
at 10:22:11 PM on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 |
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| Never did like Hazel Blears. This has just made me dislike her even more. Just think of all that money she claimed for all that crap,she could have used it do something decent for Salford residents. You know the constituency she supposedly works for!
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Pitchfork wrote
at 6:38:14 PM on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 |
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| This is a clear abuse of a BENEFIT System. Who will call for criminal proceedings to be instigated - the Politicians?
Perhaps we need to look a little closer to home to see what our Lead Members, Exec Support and Local Councillors are earning?
How many various boards do the Cllr's Merry, Warmisham and Lancaster sit on, how much do they receive in expenses and allowances? ? ? ?
This (Media) tidal wave of corruption and abuse will eventually pan out, leaving a stench of rot in the structure of politics, and small pools of local questions about our local representatives. |
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pam wrote
at 5:35:13 PM on Saturday, May 09, 2009 |
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| To me it's as bad as benefit fraud but they are allowed to get away with it. Rules for one springs to mind. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a reply to any letter you send. She hasn't the nerve to send in a response. She thinks us lot are beneath her. |
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Stan Evans wrote
at 5:35:05 PM on Saturday, May 09, 2009 |
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| Hazel Blears obviously still enjoys a Taste of Honey.
Gordon Brown says it's not his fault, it is the system (hasn't he made this plea before?), yet NeoLabour have been in power for 12 years. Didn't Blair and Brown promise to clear away sleaze and corruption?
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Paul S wrote
at 5:34:47 PM on Saturday, May 09, 2009 |
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| On behalf of all politicians, Will you peasants
leave us to get on with our job and stop moaning
because we are doing OK. while you are telling us
how bad things are for you all. Don't blame us for
knowing how to bleed a system made by politicians for politicians. Is it our fault that we know how to work the system with-out getting Nicked, you lot
fiddle the benefit system so leave us alone to get on with fiddleing the allowance system, so leave us
alone and we will leave you alone, a real case of
Quid Pro Quo. We too have families, dogs, horses one or two BMWs, large houses and many "dependents"
all these take money which you, the voters,provide
So on behalf of all politicians here and in the south of France, a nice big Thank You, Thank you.PS |
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Bob Jeffery wrote
at 3:03:36 PM on Saturday, May 09, 2009 |
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debbie wrote
at 11:08:35 AM on Saturday, May 09, 2009 |
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| No wonder she has a permanent grin on her face!!!!!!!!! |
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phil wrote
at 4:49:55 AM on Saturday, May 09, 2009 |
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| well salford we know what to do next time they want our vote , vote none of the above. |
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sarah ryan wrote
at 7:47:27 PM on Friday, May 08, 2009 |
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| Am I a bit thick as I just don't get it? MPs get a salary don't they?...my employer doesn't pay for my home furnishings?
Even the 2.6k on travel for 8 trips is extortionate. I travel to London monthly get a standard return ticket (admittedly I get a charitable discount it's £68) it should be around £100, or even cheaper if booked in advance and/or off peak. She must be going 1st class. If staying overnight, I stay in premiere inns which are comfortable clean, and good food and service, no need for the posh end.
I have a decent job but can't afford one mortgage let alone a big screen TV. It just illustrates that MP's have no grasp of reality and real issues...never having to struggle or budget, they can bleed the tax payer dry without a flicker of conscience. They are welcomed into a system that perpetuates their pampered soft "never-done-a hard-days-graft-in-their lives" hands. Ooo Hazel better put your Nivea hand cream on the claim form!..silly me you'd only use the high end stuff. I really hope there is true reform and hope the money saved - which must be millions -will be reinvested wisely. |
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Will Youds wrote
at 4:56:24 PM on Friday, May 08, 2009 |
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As these M.P's now become shown up for the money hungry bastards they are, I wonder if any future expenses brought to light will surprise us, such as one M.P who claimed expenses to help with a local project, or cover the costs of a community endeavour? of course it won't. they will show these people as grabbing bastards who twist the system to line their own pockets.
I thought being an M.P was a vocation. Not a chance to make a few quid on the sly. |
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Jon wrote
at 3:27:48 PM on Friday, May 08, 2009 |
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| I simply don't understand this constant refrain of 'no rules were broken'?
Here's the rule: "Only those additional costs wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred to enable you to stay overnight away from your only or main UK residence, either in London or in the constituency."
Wholly. Exclusively. Necessarily.
TVs? Video players? Groceries? Bath towels? Curtains?
This is fraud. Plain and simple fraud. Even without the cynical juggling of 'second homes' for profit. |
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Richard Carvath wrote
at 3:27:29 PM on Friday, May 08, 2009 |
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| Definitely snout in trough. |
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