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LEYTON/WANSTEAD: MP's expenses slammed
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| Harry Cohen has defended spending £22.000 of public money on his home |
LEYTON and WANSTEAD MP Harry Cohen has been slammed for claiming thousands of pounds in Parliamentary expenses on his constituency home.
Conservative MP Stephen Hammond said that Mr Cohen and other London-based MPs should be barred from receiving the additional cost allowance (ACA) on second properties because they live so close to Westminster.
He singled Mr Cohen out for criticism because he continues to claim the maximum £22,110 allowance on his Wanstead house, which is just six miles from Westminster.
The Wimbledon MP launched his attack as a House of Commons inquiry revealed details of expenses MPs can claim back under the ACA, including up to £10,000 for a kitchen and £750 for a new television.
The allowance was originally introduced to refund MPs with constituencies outside inner London on money they spend on second properties closer to Parliament other than their main homes.
Mr Cohen, who counts a property in Colchester as his main home, continues to claim the ACA on his second' home in Woodcote Road despite admitting to spending more than 90 per cent of his time there.
Ilford North MP Lee Scott who has never claimed the allowance, backed Mr Hammond's call for greater transparency in members' finances.
| 'Living in the constituency is living on the job' | | Harry Cohen |
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He said: "MPs have to make their own judgements when claiming expenses, but I have chosen not to claim the ACA allowance because I only have one house in my constituency.
"It's important that people have confidence in politicians, and this can only be improved by opening our finances up to public scrutiny."
These views were backed by Chingford and Woodford Green MP, Iain Duncan Smith, who claimed just £566 in ACA expenses, last year.
He said: "Everything should be completely transparent because I think it's important that people have confidence in their politicians."
Mr Cohen admitted that the main item which he has claimed back on his London home has been mortgage interest.
And he defended his position, saying: "I can only speak for myself, but living in the constituency is living on the job.
"I do need some private life too, as does my family.
"My overwhelming preference is for MPs to be paid an appropriate salary which recognises this important position and which covers expenses."
A detailed list detailing all MPs' expenses over the cost of £25 will be published by Parliament on April 1.
3:03pm Wednesday 19th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mr. T. C. Hull, Walthamstow on 4:22pm Wed 19 Mar 08
Nobody goes into politics for anything other than their own interest! I bet there are quite few of Cohen's constituents who would love to be able to claim even a portion of such a large sum to make life more bearable under this oppressive
Government!!
Nobody goes into politics for anything other than their own interest! I bet there are quite few of Cohen's constituents who would love to be able to claim even a portion of such a large sum to make life more bearable under this oppressive
Government!!
Posted by: me khalid, walthamstone on 4:34pm Wed 19 Mar 08
how mr coin go by kitch for 10 thosand and can go b and q by one maybe 500 ponds only? somethin very fish go on in this contry
how mr coin go by kitch for 10 thosand and can go b and q by one maybe 500 ponds only? somethin very fish go on in this contry
Posted by: Walter Klein, Leyton on 11:55pm Wed 19 Mar 08
It's not just Labour MPs who are ripping off the taxpayer but Tories and Lib-Dems as well. The rot goes right to the top with people like Dave Cameron and Gordon Brown and their taxpayer funded second homes. Why should Cameron and Brown be allowed to keep all the profits from their second homes when they eventually sell them? Surely the proceeds should go back into the public purse - not into Cameron's and Brown's pockets!
It's not just Labour MPs who are ripping off the taxpayer but Tories and Lib-Dems as well. The rot goes right to the top with people like Dave Cameron and Gordon Brown and their taxpayer funded second homes. Why should Cameron and Brown be allowed to keep all the profits from their second homes when they eventually sell them? Surely the proceeds should go back into the public purse - not into Cameron's and Brown's pockets!
Posted by: Save Our Post Offices, E10 on 11:55pm Wed 19 Mar 08
Harry Cohen, in a breathtaking demonstration of hypocrisy, tonight (Wed 19th) voted AGAINST the post offices motion in Parliament, which called for the Labour Govt to halt its closure plans for many Post Offices including 6 in Waltham Forest.
This motion was supported by all Tory and LibDem MPs, including Iain Duncan Smith, and many Labour ones as well, Neil Gerrard still being ill did not vote at all.Despite the big camapign that his colleagues on Labour run Waltham Forest Council have been mounting, at our expense, to save those 6 local Post Offices, Harry Cohen took no notice of his local council or his electorate and voted against.
This shows just how completely out of touch with his constituents Harry Cohen is.
Harry Cohen, in a breathtaking demonstration of hypocrisy, tonight (Wed 19th) voted AGAINST the post offices motion in Parliament, which called for the Labour Govt to halt its closure plans for many Post Offices including 6 in Waltham Forest.
This motion was supported by all Tory and LibDem MPs, including Iain Duncan Smith, and many Labour ones as well, Neil Gerrard still being ill did not vote at all.Despite the big camapign that his colleagues on Labour run Waltham Forest Council have been mounting, at our expense, to save those 6 local Post Offices, Harry Cohen took no notice of his local council or his electorate and voted against.
This shows just how completely out of touch with his constituents Harry Cohen is.
Posted by: Mr. T. C. Hull, Walthamstow on 7:33am Thu 20 Mar 08
This nasty little excuse for a human being ought to be slung out! 'Cohen should be goin'
This nasty little excuse for a human being ought to be slung out! 'Cohen should be goin'
Posted by: Mr Jenkins, Walthamstow on 11:02am Thu 20 Mar 08
"This nasty little excuse for a human being ought to be slung out!"
Whatever I think of the issue raised here your personal attack on Mr Cohen with language like this is simply out of order.
Many people I know have been helped by Harry who from what I hear works very hard.
I may not be comfortable about his expenses but after your comment you should closer to home him about who the "nasty little excuse for a human being" really is. says more about you than is does him.
"This nasty little excuse for a human being ought to be slung out!"
Whatever I think of the issue raised here your personal attack on Mr Cohen with language like this is simply out of order.
Many people I know have been helped by Harry who from what I hear works very hard.
I may not be comfortable about his expenses but after your comment you should closer to home him about who the "nasty little excuse for a human being" really is. says more about you than is does him.
Posted by: Frank, Leyton on 12:28pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Greedy little man
Posted by: technomist, walthamstow on 12:53pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Mr Jenkins :
While Mr Hull's criticism of an MP for being short is unreasonable, there is nothing wrong with pointing out that Mr Cohen is a nasty man. The defense you put up by is ridiculous: we would expect nothing less of any other MP but that they worked hard and looked after the interests of their constituents. Mr Cohen has shown breath-taking arrogance and greed at the expense of the public. He is, in my view, unfit to hold public office.
I don't care what party people support, they should not vote people like this into positions of responsibility, and when people find that they have done so, they should consider their duties to themselves and their fellow citizens and vote them out at the first opportunity.
Mr Jenkins :
While Mr Hull's criticism of an MP for being short is unreasonable, there is nothing wrong with pointing out that Mr Cohen is a nasty man. The defense you put up by is ridiculous: we would expect nothing less of any other MP but that they worked hard and looked after the interests of their constituents. Mr Cohen has shown breath-taking arrogance and greed at the expense of the public. He is, in my view, unfit to hold public office.
I don't care what party people support, they should not vote people like this into positions of responsibility, and when people find that they have done so, they should consider their duties to themselves and their fellow citizens and vote them out at the first opportunity.
Posted by: technomist, walthamstow on 12:56pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Mr Jenkins :
While Mr Hull's criticism of an MP for being short is a bit unreasonable, (I don't know if he is short or not, but if he is he can't help that). There is, however nothing wrong with someone pointing out that Mr Cohen is a nasty man. The defense you put up by is feeble: we would expect nothing less of any other MP but that they worked hard and looked after the interests of their constituents. These qualities that all aspirants for public office should share as it is a minimum qualification for the job.
Mr Cohen has shown breath-taking arrogance and greed at the expense of the public. He is, in my view, unfit to hold public office.
I don't care what party people support, they should not vote people like this into positions of responsibility, and when people find that they have done so, they should consider their duties to themselves and their fellow citizens and vote them out at the first opportunity.
Mr Jenkins :
While Mr Hull's criticism of an MP for being short is a bit unreasonable, (I don't know if he is short or not, but if he is he can't help that). There is, however nothing wrong with someone pointing out that Mr Cohen is a nasty man. The defense you put up by is feeble: we would expect nothing less of any other MP but that they worked hard and looked after the interests of their constituents. These qualities that all aspirants for public office should share as it is a minimum qualification for the job.
Mr Cohen has shown breath-taking arrogance and greed at the expense of the public. He is, in my view, unfit to hold public office.
I don't care what party people support, they should not vote people like this into positions of responsibility, and when people find that they have done so, they should consider their duties to themselves and their fellow citizens and vote them out at the first opportunity.
Posted by: Mr. T. C. Hull, Walthamstow on 2:27pm Thu 20 Mar 08
My use of the word 'little' was in no way a reference to the stature of this person, just his attitude!!
My use of the word 'little' was in no way a reference to the stature of this person, just his attitude!!
Posted by: technomist, walthamstow on 4:26pm Thu 20 Mar 08
I am sure you did mean small in the sense of insignificant, not up to much, morally inadequate etc. That would certainly accord with my assessment of Mr Cohen. So I get your drift.
On the other hand, I have learned to be very careful about referring to size. I am quite a big bloke and have discovered over the years that people who are vertically challenged can be very sensitive about the diminutive circumstances they find themselves in. It is surprising how often it is that short people have something they think to have to prove and go around starting trouble in bars, for instance.
I am sure you did mean small in the sense of insignificant, not up to much, morally inadequate etc. That would certainly accord with my assessment of Mr Cohen. So I get your drift.
On the other hand, I have learned to be very careful about referring to size. I am quite a big bloke and have discovered over the years that people who are vertically challenged can be very sensitive about the diminutive circumstances they find themselves in. It is surprising how often it is that short people have something they think to have to prove and go around starting trouble in bars, for instance.
Posted by: Paul Callow, Leyton on 7:20pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Cohen will NOT be getting my vote at the next election-hes been inefective at best.
Cohen will NOT be getting my vote at the next election-hes been inefective at best.
Posted by: md250, ilford on 9:21pm Thu 20 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Paul Callow[/bold] wrote:
Cohen will NOT be getting my vote at the next election-hes been inefective at best.[/quote] HE'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD MP OVER THE YEARS, ITS THE SYSTEM THAT IS WRONG, AND IT LEAVES PEOPLE OPEN TO THIS CRITICISM.
Paul Callow wrote:
Cohen will NOT be getting my vote at the next election-hes been inefective at best.
HE'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD MP OVER THE YEARS, ITS THE SYSTEM THAT IS WRONG, AND IT LEAVES PEOPLE OPEN TO THIS CRITICISM.
Posted by: D Munn, Leyton on 12:38am Fri 21 Mar 08
Harry Cohen is certainly not ineffective. My late aunt got so much helped from him before she passed away last year. I'm not happy about MPs getting lots of money but where Mr Cohen's concerned I couldn't wish for a better MP.
Harry Cohen is certainly not ineffective. My late aunt got so much helped from him before she passed away last year. I'm not happy about MPs getting lots of money but where Mr Cohen's concerned I couldn't wish for a better MP.
Posted by: technomist, walthamstow on 10:11am Fri 21 Mar 08
D Munn, As you have the vote, and are in his constituency, you are of course entitled to your view, and I respect you for voicing it. I hope his caseworking has been as good as you believe it to be (MPs casework is generally confidential so we normally only ever hear what they want us to hear about it - many MPs have researchers who do a lot of it for them). I just wonder if he could not still have provided that service to his constituents without ripping them and the rest of the tax-paying public off with his outrageous personal expenses claims. I also have political concerns about some of his other activities in Parliamnet, like recently signing an Early Day Motion in praise of the dictator Castro managing to stay in power for 60 years. He did this without any free and fair elections and by murdering and torturing his political opponents. But if that's the kind of person you think should be representing Leyton, if he decides to stand again, then it is your right to vote for him.
D Munn, As you have the vote, and are in his constituency, you are of course entitled to your view, and I respect you for voicing it. I hope his caseworking has been as good as you believe it to be (MPs casework is generally confidential so we normally only ever hear what they want us to hear about it - many MPs have researchers who do a lot of it for them). I just wonder if he could not still have provided that service to his constituents without ripping them and the rest of the tax-paying public off with his outrageous personal expenses claims. I also have political concerns about some of his other activities in Parliamnet, like recently signing an Early Day Motion in praise of the dictator Castro managing to stay in power for 60 years. He did this without any free and fair elections and by murdering and torturing his political opponents. But if that's the kind of person you think should be representing Leyton, if he decides to stand again, then it is your right to vote for him.
Posted by: mr khalid, walthamstow on 12:49pm Sat 22 Mar 08
this man he justeded for self
this man he justeded for self
Posted by: Gordon McKiefe, Leyton on 4:06pm Sat 22 Mar 08
It sickens me to see people who are clearly Labour appologists trying to defend this man!
Let's face facts - he didn't have to claim so much in expenses - no one forced him to make the claims!
As matters stand when Mr. Cohen decides to retire he can sell his Leyton home - paid for in no small part by scores of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money - and pocket the lot!
That is a disgrace!
What is stopping him now signing a legal agreement to repay all the taxpayers money he has had down the years - plus interest - out of the proceeds of any such sale as a declaration of integriity? Greed that what!
It is wrong and utterly deplorable that this man should be profiting from the taxpayer in this underhand way!
How anyone can vote for such a man - regardless of party politics - is beyond me!
Final poinr - wasn't Labour once a socialist party that believed in helping the poor - not helping themselves on the back of the poor!
It sickens me to see people who are clearly Labour appologists trying to defend this man!
Let's face facts - he didn't have to claim so much in expenses - no one forced him to make the claims!
As matters stand when Mr. Cohen decides to retire he can sell his Leyton home - paid for in no small part by scores of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money - and pocket the lot!
That is a disgrace!
What is stopping him now signing a legal agreement to repay all the taxpayers money he has had down the years - plus interest - out of the proceeds of any such sale as a declaration of integriity? Greed that what!
It is wrong and utterly deplorable that this man should be profiting from the taxpayer in this underhand way!
How anyone can vote for such a man - regardless of party politics - is beyond me!
Final poinr - wasn't Labour once a socialist party that believed in helping the poor - not helping themselves on the back of the poor!
Posted by: R Jenkins, London on 6:25pm Sat 22 Mar 08
Behaviour like that of Mr Cohen and many other MPs in parliament is so immoral that it can only be described as 'indefensible.' The fact that other MPS, and various members & supporters of the Conservative, Labour, and liberal Democrat parties can still actually speak up on their behalf shows just how deep is their cynicism, and how they have completely abandoned any pretence to standards. We seem to be governed by an arrogant mafia, who have brainwashed a portion of the public to overlook or excuse anything they do, no matter how awful.
Behaviour like that of Mr Cohen and many other MPs in parliament is so immoral that it can only be described as 'indefensible.' The fact that other MPS, and various members & supporters of the Conservative, Labour, and liberal Democrat parties can still actually speak up on their behalf shows just how deep is their cynicism, and how they have completely abandoned any pretence to standards. We seem to be governed by an arrogant mafia, who have brainwashed a portion of the public to overlook or excuse anything they do, no matter how awful.
Posted by: devils advocate on 8:17pm Sat 22 Mar 08
No wonder we are in such a mess in this country, when we have apologists for corruption Mr Jenkins. I work hard for my money too, and give the best service that I can to my employer, that is what being an employee is about-be it a private or an employee of the state. If I was found to be fiddling the books or defrauding my employer, then I would quite rightly expect to be given the boot, and making excuses for politicians doesnt wash with me I'm afraid, in fact they should be above reproach completely, an example to those of us in lesser positions. And when you consider that under Nooo Labour the little man is nailed to the floor for the slightest thing (think threatening adverts on both tv and radio), then corrupt politicos should be given tougher sentences and made to repay the money back to set an example, instead of getting away with it continually. Wise up Britain!.
No wonder we are in such a mess in this country, when we have apologists for corruption Mr Jenkins. I work hard for my money too, and give the best service that I can to my employer, that is what being an employee is about-be it a private or an employee of the state. If I was found to be fiddling the books or defrauding my employer, then I would quite rightly expect to be given the boot, and making excuses for politicians doesnt wash with me I'm afraid, in fact they should be above reproach completely, an example to those of us in lesser positions. And when you consider that under Nooo Labour the little man is nailed to the floor for the slightest thing (think threatening adverts on both tv and radio), then corrupt politicos should be given tougher sentences and made to repay the money back to set an example, instead of getting away with it continually. Wise up Britain!.
Posted by: Colin, Leytonstone on 11:27am Sun 23 Mar 08
Cohen is the only Zone 3 MP without an annual Oyster Card - he claims car mileage for every journey.
Cohen is the only Zone 3 MP without an annual Oyster Card - he claims car mileage for every journey.
Posted by: Tom, Wanstead on 12:50pm Mon 24 Mar 08
As a disenfranchised Labour supporter Mr Cohen is probably wise not to travel on the tube. I would certainly give him a piece of my mind if I were to meet him as his attitude is not what I would expect from my MP.
As a disenfranchised Labour supporter Mr Cohen is probably wise not to travel on the tube. I would certainly give him a piece of my mind if I were to meet him as his attitude is not what I would expect from my MP.
Posted by: M Anderson, Mid West USA ex-Essexman on 6:20pm Mon 24 Mar 08
Get rid of the spongers! Make them work the night shift. See how they like that!
Get rid of the spongers! Make them work the night shift. See how they like that!
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