Ever since the details of MPs' expenses were first published, people have been furious about the excessive, unacceptable and possibly illegal claims made by some of the people we send to represent us in the House of Commons.
At the by-election in July, I made it clear to you that I will not play the system. I will not bend the rules. I will not break the law. Instead, I will abide by the standards that politicians expect others to live by. I will stick to the strict rules set out below.
MPs' expenses: my contract with you
I, Chloe Smith, the MP for Norwich North, promise to:
- publish on my personal website details of all of my personal expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament;
- publish on my personal website details of all of my office expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament;
- publish on my personal website details of all donations of more than £1,000 to either Norwich North Conservative Association or to me, in line with Electoral Commission rules;
- appoint a local firm of auditors to approve my expenses accounts at the end of every financial year;
- open up my unedited expenses claims to local newspapers at the end of every financial year;
- never claim for food;
- never claim for furniture or household goods; and
- meet my own tax liabilities - such as stamp duty -without claiming them from the taxpayer.
My most recent claims can be viewed below, and will be updated on a regular basis.
