Cohen claimed £3,031 for new worktop
LABOUR MP Harry Cohen spent thousands refurbishing a second home, then sold it and charged £12,000 in stamp duty and fees to buy a new property in his constituency of Leyton, east London, where he spent thousands more.
He argued with Commons authorities that work on the kitchen of the new home was “exclusively in connection with my Parliamentary duties” and was reimbursed £3,031 for a granite worktop. Officials had warned the bill “may be considered excessive”.
Mr Cohen nominated a converted schoolhouse in Colchester as his main home. Other claims included £4.25 for baby wipes and £8.75 for shaving oil. He defended the work on his “very dilapidated” first home and said he had been forced to move after his wife Ellen had a stroke which meant she could not cope with a three-storey property.
He said fitting the granite worktop instead of ripping out 30-year-old fitted units was “value for money” but he would repay the cost of toiletries – not an allowable expense.