Tory MP in 'moat' expense claim
Lincolnshire MP Douglas Hogg has denied that he claimed more than £2,000 of taxpayers' cash to have the moat of his country house cleaned.
The Sleaford and North Hykeham MP also claimed £14,000 a year for a housekeeper at his Lincolnshire home, as well as expenses like having his piano tuned, his stable lights fixed and hiring a mole catcher for his garden.
Mr Hogg has become the latest MP to have his expense claims revealed in the Daily Telegraph as part of an ongoing series based on leaked material.
He has denied doing anything wrong, saying his claims were all within the rules, and he did not actually get money for the moat cleaning.
He told the Telegraph: "For most of the working week my wife and I are in London.
"We therefore employ a lady to look after the house in Lincolnshire and for similar reasons we pay for the cost of maintaining the garden."
For more on this story, see Wednesday's Echo.
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by s, lincoln
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 9:38AM
“Yes hogg pay from your salary like everyone else has too. Helen yes must of been in right mess haha when not at home. trouble is they think they are above doing house cleaning themselfs thats the real truth Woundlt mind the job tho for that money Mr hogg im here if you wantt to employ me.”
by Steve, South Hykeham
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 3:58PM
“Nick ¿ Wake up!!; there¿s a difference between following rules, and there¿s taking the proverbial whilst at the same time trying not to be found out.
There¿s exploiting rules and there¿s ramming your face so far into the trough that a smarmy smile and an ¿I¿m sorry¿ doesn¿t wash.
These wasters are being found out for what they are, greedy self centred loaders; and on the back of a country that¿s at rock bottom.
The sad thing is, is that when they do get what they deserve at the ballot box, some corporate body will invite them as an executive on the board just to keep themselves in the government¿s back pocket.”
by helen, work lincoln
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 3:16PM
“wish i was earning £14000 a year to clean some posh blokes house!! that is a high wage for a cleaner, considering they aren't even there 5 days outta 7, they must leave it in a right mess, that it takes her the whole of the next week to clean!!”
by Nick, Hykeham
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 3:13PM
“Whilst these expenses claims are morally wrong, it is the rules that need changing. In my opinion the MPs involved should not be punished for simply following the rules. I'm sure most of the public exploit rules which they know to be morally wrong at least once in their lifetime.”
by Rick, Lincoln
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 2:02PM
“No MP gives a toss about the general public, the only time you see em is when they want your vote, i think it's a bloody disgrace what they are getting money back for, & we the tax payer has to pay the bloody bill, none of them know what it is like living on the bread line, it sounds to me that they pay for naff all at all, we pay all there bills for them, all you get is 'it was a mistake, sorry, i will pay it back' they can't all be mistakes, they know damn well what they are paying for, it is damn right disgusting & they will never ever be short of money, they get a good wage, better than the poor man on the street & they still want more, i will never trust a MP ever again, not that i did before, but this is the icing on the cake, none of em will get my vote.”