There are two intriguing stories in the Sunday Newspapers that will further worry senior Labour Politicians, and they both relate Parliamentary expenses – one refers to a member of the House of Lords, and the other of course is an MP.  

I initially read this report last night on the Telegraph website, but I could not believe it and I still cannot “make head not tail of it”. I just find it incredible; if this is true, – how has he got away with it? 

According to the Telegraph a Labour MP is said to have claimed the cost of building a sauna on his second home allowance, he claimed that the skin condition made it necessary for him to have regular sessions at his home. The Labour MP would have left taxpayers with a bill of thousands of pounds. 

A Commons source said: “Jacqui Smith claimed for her husband’s porn films and an 88p bath plug but to claim for installing a sauna would be absolutely breathtaking.” 

According to the Sunday Times a Labour peer who lives in the East End of London has claimed about £100,000 in parliamentary expenses on a flat in Kent that neighbours say has been unoccupied for years.

Baroness Uddin, has been claiming allowances intended for peers living outside London even though she resides only four miles from the Lords.  

The Sunday Times established that the baroness bought a two-bedroom flat in Maidstone in 2005 and has named it as her main home to claim almost £30,000 a year in accommodation expenses from the House of Lords.  

The flat according to residents is an unoccupied condition, and they have seen her visit the property.

The Sunday Times has also challenged Uddin about a further £83,000 worth of expense claims she made before she bought the Maidstone flat in September 2005. 

She has claimed that her main residence has been outside the capital since 2001 but refuses to say where, despite repeated questions.  

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury, Lord Oakeshott said: “An empty property can’t be a peer’s main residence. The Lords authorities must check the facts of this case and investigate.”  

Insisting she had done nothing wrong, Uddin said: “Should the House of Lords authorities wish to investigate the matter I will, of course, cooperate fully.” She said she stayed at the flat “regularly” and that it had furniture.  

Yesterday she appeared at the flat but refused to prove it was furnished by showing a reporter around. “I’m telling you it is. You’ll just have to accept that,” she said.