North East politicians have slammed proposals that will allows MPs to claim Christmas parties on their expenses.
MPs will be able to put the cost of food and drink at their staff parties on expenses for the first time, meaning taxpayers will pay for the festivities.
Lights, tinsel and a tree can be expensed but alcohol cannot be included in the claim, according to the guidance from the expenses watchdog Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).
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As the cost of living crisis grips the country, Northumberland MP Ian Lavery has branded the decision "preposterous and utterly tone deaf".
Mr Lavery, who represents Wansbeck, said: "The astonishing announcement that MPs will be permitted to use taxpayers' money to fund office Christmas parties is frankly preposterous and utterly tone deaf given the financial difficulties so many people are facing across the country,
"I cannot help to think that this move is a deliberate attempt to cause hostility and foster division. I know of no MPs who have requested any funding for office Christmas parties and I would personally never dream of using public funds in this way."
County Durham Labour councillor Carl Marshall said: “This story is nothing but a political distraction as the country struggles in the teeth of a Tory cost of living crisis, that has been exacerbated by the UK’s own Government.
“No Labour MPs asked for this, no Labour MPs intend to claim expenses for Christmas parties and no Labour MPs think it’s a good idea to use public money to hold parties during a winter when families across County Durham can’t heat their homes or put food on the table.”
Durham City MP Mary Foy said: “Reports that IPSA will consider funding discretionary hospitality expenses to cover the costs of festive food or non alcoholic refreshments for MPs' offices are neither welcomed nor wanted by MPs.
"My small team work incredibly hard to serve the people of the City of Durham, and are currently dealing with unprecedented levels of casework, enquiries and distressing correspondence due to the various crises engulfing our country. I will be covering the cost of any Christmas celebrations personally- as I have done since being elected.
"With regard to IPSA, I would much rather they focussed on increasing staffing budgets to allow MPs to pay their overburdened teams more for the important work that they do - rather than allowing us to pay for mince pies and soft drinks.”
Easington MP Grahame Morris said the idea of claiming for Christmas parties, not only during a cost of living crisis but at anytime is patently ridiculous.
He added: "I have seen the Daily Mail headline; however, they have not provided any cases or examples.
"MPs with ‘hospitality’ costs will have had claims published. I would be shocked if any MPs thought it appropriate to use public money to hold Christmas parties.
"Without any cases or evidence that this has ever happened, the headline is misleading. Unfortunately, the consequence is that hardworking parliamentary and constituency staff face the anger of constituents who see such misleading headlines. The IPSA ‘guidance’ on this matter is really unhelpful to MPs and staff and has given those seeking to smear parliament an easy opportunity.”
Under the guidance MPs have been told to be mindful of the cost of living crisis and ensure claims "represent value for money".
The decision has been widely lambasted with the TaxPayers' Alliance saying MPs already get a "plum deal without taxpayer-funded office jollies".
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