The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has apologised for telling MPs they can claim for their Christmas parties through their expenses. It comes as some politicians received "abuse" because of the decision.
The watchdog has been widely criticised for giving the go-ahead amid a cost-of-living crisis. MPs complained that the watchdog had given the impression they had been “clamouring” to put food, refreshments and decorations for an office party on expenses.
Ipsa said that after issuing the guidance around Christmas spending, several MPs got in touch to say “they have never made such claims in the past and have no intention of doing so in the future”.
