Four Members of Parliament (MPs) are facing requests to repay hundreds of pounds in driving fines that they claimed on their expenses. Among them is government minister Amanda Solloway, who claimed an £80 fixed penalty notice issued by Transport for London in 2020. Tory MPs Simon Hoare and Bim Afolami, as well as SNP MP Dave Doogan, also submitted similar claims. It is against the rules for MPs to claim for fines, and although some payments were made in error, at least one MP has already repaid the money.
According to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority’s (IPSA) expenses register, Amanda Solloway, the MP for Derby North and energy minister, claimed for a fixed penalty notice issued on July 2, 2020. Dave Doogan, the SNP MP for Angus, claimed for a £160 fine in January 2022. The register also shows that Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset, claimed four times for £80 fines issued in November 2019, while Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, claimed for two £80 fines in December 2021.
Bim Afolami stated that the claims were made inadvertently and that all the money was repaid as soon as he became aware of it.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has clarified that claims for penalty charges will not be paid to MPs. The watchdog, responsible for setting MPs’ pay independently, admitted that its checks failed in some cases, resulting in the payment of these claims. IPSA has since changed its expenses process to prevent future payments of such claims. A spokesperson confirmed that they would contact MPs and request appropriate repayments, and reiterated the scheme rules to MPs.
The spokesperson further clarified that MPs from outside London can claim the congestion charge if they drive into central London for work. However, this does not extend to approving expenses claims for fines incurred due to late payment of the congestion charge.
This incident follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent decision not to initiate an inquiry into Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s handling of a speeding offence. Braverman had sought advice from officials about arranging a private course to avoid penalty points on her licence after being caught speeding last year while serving as attorney general. She subsequently accepted a fine and penalty points. IPSA was established in 2009 following the expenses scandal involving MPs.