Political commentator Aaron Bastani has launched a scathing attack on MPs claiming heating expenses whilst cutting pensioner benefits, singling out Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall.
Speaking on GB News, Bastani criticised Kendall, who earns a basic MP salary of £91,000 plus ministerial supplements, pointing out she “lives in a £4million property shared with her partner”.
He said: “Liz Kendall earns £91,000 basic as a backbencher, an additional £40 to £50,000 as a member of the cabinet. You’re looking at £140 to £150,000 before tax.
“She lives in a £4m property shared with her partner, a very wealthy financier in Notting Hill.
Aaron Bastani blasted MPs who are claiming expenses
GB News
“The poor British taxpayer is paying for her heating. They should not be getting this money.
“They should not be in receipt of this money. It’s one thing to be paying for staff to do their job properly as parliamentarians.
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“It’s another to be warming that home. And you’re saying it’s for their second home? Well, here’s the point.
“You’re not going to have both your homes having the heating on at the same time, so it doesn’t make any sense to me. I’d scrap it.”
Member of the House of Lords Jacqueline Foster said: “It doesn’t look great does it, when this Labour government basically threw 10 million pensioners under the bus when they went away with the fuel payment, and now you’ve got ministers who, to be fair, do get an additional payment for being ministers.
“Perhaps they should could show some goodwill and and say, okay, well, let’s pay our own heating allowances ourselves.”
The comments come as figures reveal Kendall claimed £5,700 in energy expenses over five years – enough to cover Winter Fuel payments for 19 pensioners.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended claiming £3,700 in energy expenses over five years whilst backing plans to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
The Labour Chancellor, who earns £158,851, claimed the expenses for heating her constituency home in Leeds.
Defending her position on GB News, Reeves said: “I recognise that I earn more than average families in Britain, but I’m also determined in this position to protect the most vulnerable, which is why the winter fuel payment will continue to be paid to pensioners on pension credit.”
Member of the House of Lords Jacqueline Foster said they “threw pensioners under the bus”
GB News
She added that having two homes was necessary for constituency MPs under “long standing rules”.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers are tired of taking lectures from politicians unable to practice what they preach.”
He continued: “Failed policies have driven up energy prices to levels that families are struggling to meet, yet MPs are insulated from the soaring costs.
“Our representatives should remember their voters when deciding policies.”
