A REPORT into MPs' expenses shows Mirfield MP Shahid Malik owes just £36.14 in repayments.
Sir Thomas Legg’s final report looked at expenses claims made by 752 MPs and former MPs between 2004 and 2008.
Yesterday’s report found a total of £1.3m in overpayments to 52 per cent of all MPs – but £800,000 of that has already been repaid.
T
he report said Mr Malik was paid £1,050 for a television in February 2006, £225 more than the guideline price.
He was paid £730 for an armchair in September 2007, exceeding the guideline price by £180, and was also overpaid £935.56 for council tax and summons costs between 2005 and 2007.
Sir Thomas recommended a repayment of £1,340.56 and said £1,304.43 had already been received.
A spokesman for Mr Malik said the MP made his repayments in July before he was asked and was happy to pay the outstanding £36.14.
l Mr Malik has written to Kirklees Council asking that a general election count be held in Dewsbury. Last week the council announced that an overnight count would be held following the election.
Mr Malik said: “I am pleased the count will still take place on election night. It’s a great tradition which we should uphold and it’s good that the council have listened to our arguments on this.
“However I am naturally very disappointed that Dewsbury Town Hall had been abandoned in favour of Huddersfield as the count venue. I have written to the council to ask them to reconsider this decision.”
But council officials have said for logistical reasons the count had to be held in one place.
