LETTER: MPs accumulate £160,576 in extra allowances in just 5 years

12.00.00am GMT Mon 13th Nov 2006

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats, has frequently challenged the Keens on their expenses. Dakers has committed to not drawing an "Additional Expenses Allowance" if elected an MP.

It will not have escaped the notice of regular visitors to TheyWorkForYou.com and readers of our local papers that Labour MPs Alan & Ann Keen - last year dubbed Mr & Mrs Expenses by the Evening Standard - have again this year again claimed an Additional Expenses Allowance. It has in the past been suggested that this is to pay for a Covent Garden flat.

When their home in Brentford is just 9 miles from central London and on the main line to Waterloo local people frequently tell us they are appalled at the extravagance of the Keens. This "additional" allowance has generated £160,576 for the couple over the past five years alone. If this money is funding a mortgage the property seems like a rather cushy extra pension on top of the MPs' already generous pension scheme.

On 6 May 2005 Alan Keen promised everyone attending Hounslow's general election count an explanation in due course. Eighteen months on and we are still waiting. When will you answer Mr Keen?

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats

Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Parliamentary spokesperson for Feltham & Heston

NOTES TO EDITORS

ALAN KEEN - TOTAL: £82,319

Type - Additional Costs Allowance

2005/06 - £14,494

2004/05 (ranking out of 659 MPs) - £16,144 (454th)

2003/04 (ranking out of 658 MPs) - £17,669 (384th)

2002/03 (ranking out of 657 MPs) - £19,682 (280th)

2001/02 (ranking out of 657 MPs) - £14,330 (419th)

ANN KEEN - TOTAL: £78,257

Type - Additional Costs Allowance

2005/06 - £15,794

2004/05 (ranking out of 659 MPs) - £15,439 (477th)

2003/04 (ranking out of 658 MPs) - £17,669 (384th)

2002/03 (ranking out of 657 MPs) - £19,722 (1st)

2001/02 (ranking out of 657 MPs) - £9,633 (569th)

Source: Theyworkforyou.com