MPs in Black Countrty and Staffordshire claimed £18k for trips on trains
MPs in the Black Country and Staffordshire claimed more than £18,000 worth of rail tickets on expenses over the past year. And eight out of 19 of them claimed for first class tickets, according to official figures.
New rules introduced following the 2009 expenses scandal say that MPs must buy standard fares. But they are allowed to travel first class if doing so would be cheaper than using the standard "anytime" tickets. Train tickets cost more if they are bought on the day of travel.
They also are more expensive if the passenger does not want to be tied down to using a specific train.
The biggest claimer for rail travel in the region was Halesowen and Rowley Regis Tory James Morris, even though he did not upgrade to first class once during the 2011/12 financial year. His 38 journeys cost the taxpayer £4,086.40.
While he did not travel first class he would regularly buy return tickets costing around £149 a time to get between London Euston and Sandwell and Dudley. Stone MP Bill Cash travelled first class the most out of the region's politicians.
Advance
Out of 82 journeys costing a total of £2,973.10, he travelled first class 68 times. But most of those cost under £30 for journeys between London and Wolverhampton because the tickets were booked well in advance.
Adrian Bailey, Labour MP for West Bromwich West travelled first class 27 out of 40 times, mainly between his constituency and London but tickets generally cost less than £35.
Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley charged £169 to the public purse to travel first class between London and Stafford last October and £133 to do so in September.
Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire and an aide to transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, said: "I've never travelled first class in my life but I don't begrudge those who do if they've managed to get a better value ticket."
But Taxpayers' Alliance chief executive Matthew Sinclair said: "If MPs can get themselves organised to order a first class ticket in advance, they should be able to order a standard class ticket in plenty of time as well and it will almost always be cheaper.
"If standard-class travel isn't good enough for MPs, it isn't good enough for ordinary commuters who pay for their own tickets."
