Institutes defer judgment on MPs' expenses

Hounded by the media, investigated by the taxman, chased by Scotland Yard and now scrutinised by parliament, you might think our embattled MPs couldn’t catch a break. Wrong.

The ICAEW and CIMA have indicated they will not be taking immediate disciplinary action against any of their members who are MPs caught up in the expenses scandal. They will instead take a wait and see approach.

The ICAEW has seven MPs as members. This includes Conservative David Heathcoat-Amory who reportedly claimed for the equivalent of 500 sacks of horse manure, £6 for the use of a chainsaw, £2 for mouse poison, £1.95 for sunflower seeds and £5 for a wheelbarrow puncture at his country home near Glastonbury in Somerset.

Fellow Conservative MP Mark Hoban claimed £35 on a toilet roll holder, £100 for a chrome shower rack and £79 for four silk cushion covers on his second home allowance.

According to its bylaws, an ICAEW member is open to disciplinary action if he “brings discredit on himself, the institute or the profession of accountancy”.

An ICAEW spokeswoman said the allegations were a matter for the Commons Authority. She added: “However our disclosure bylaws prevent us from commenting on whether any matter may or may not be the subject to consideration by our professional conduct department.”

CIMA has two member MPs, including Michael Foster, who was reportedly asked to pay back £860. A spokeswoman said if a member did anything wrong the body would “obviously” look into it. “However it is not clear if this MP has done anything wrong,” she said.

“Several MPs are being asked to pay back money, many as a result of following incorrect advice from the fees office… if it has any evidence of improper behaviour in relation to the laws of the institute then we will act accordingly.”

Further reading:

On the money with Gavin Hinks