Jonathan Spencer's Tales of Ordinary Wisdom

Norman Baker MP for Lewes recently described his political opponents as ‘desperate’ and engaged in ‘the politics of the gutter’.

Rather than deflecting attention as was I expect he was hoping for, the frantic tone of Norman’s comments did make me wonder about his own expenses. So I decided to have a look at the receipts and claims he has made from 2004 to 2008 for myself, that can be found at www.mpsallowances.parliament.uk and I would encourage you to do the same for Norman and for your own MP, it can throw up some surprising things and reflects the culture of our Parliament and the political parties.

I wont be casting judgement on Norman for the following without hearing his own side of the story – a curtsey he never offered his so called ‘desperate’ political opponents – nevertheless there are clearly matters that require proper explanation.

For example why it appears he claimed hundreds of pounds from the House of Commons for accountants to fill out his tax returns, and whether he paid the tax on such a benefit in kind.

29th Nov 2007 – £352.50
(Pg 75) http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/norman-baker/Norman_Baker_0708_IEP.pdf

·31st Jan 2006 – £293.75
(Pg 68) – http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/norman-baker/Norman_Baker_0506_IEP.pdf

Date Redacted 2005 – £58.75
(Pg 316) – http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/norman-baker/Norman_Baker_0405_IEP.pdf

Why bizarrely, it looks like he personally claimed hundreds of pounds personally for adverts he placed for himself, in his own annual report? All the more surprising when there is no advertising listed from himself the year that he claimed, the only of paid advertising appears from commercial companies.

17th May 2006 – Letter to Fees Office
(Pg 224) http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/norman-baker/Norman_Baker_0607_IEP.pdf

12th April 2006 – £700, Invoice made out to self
(Pg 226) http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/norman-baker/Norman_Baker_0607_IEP.pdf

12th April 2006 – £200, Invoice made out to self
(Pg 227) http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/norman-baker/Norman_Baker_0607_IEP.pdf

· Norman Bakers 2006 Annual Report (http://www.normanbaker.org.uk/downloads/NormanBakerAnnualReport2006.pdf -

Note the disclaimer on the annual report that reads “This annual report has been paid for by advertising revenue from Paradise Park and Ibstock, and by the parliamentary Incidental Expenses Provision of Norman Baker MP.” Rather than, this report has also been paid for me to receive £700).

Why also does it appear that the House of Commons paid out hundreds of pounds to his local party the costs of its Freepost account. Clearly Parliament role isn’t to subsidise local party political material, and if it was printed and paid for on commons stationary relating to parliamentary matters, why was the Lib Dem party political addresses being used, and why are we paying for their postage?

5th April 2007 – £331.06
(Pg 35) http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/norman-baker/Norman_Baker_0708_CA.pdf

Norman has made clear that he is “confident that my own expenses claims have both met the rules and more importantly are morally justifiable”. You decide.

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