MP expenses: over £200,000 claimed on first class train tickets and business class flights during coronavirus pandemic

MPs made thousands of claims for first class rail tickets during the pandemic, costing the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds, NationalWorld can reveal.

Almost 150 MPs from across the political spectrum made over 2,200 claims for first class tickets totalling £208,500 in the 12 months to March 2021, according to analysis of The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) expenses data.

First class tickets accounted for almost a quarter (23%) of all rail travel claims made by MPs during that time.

One prolific luxury traveler approached by NationalWorld claimed his first class tickets were cheaper than standard fares, despite the fact they made up 93% of his and his dependents’ claims.

Of all first class claims by MPs, 89 were made for dependants, resulting in a cost of £5,770 and 82 were for staff travel, costing £6,776.

MPs representing constituencies in the North West of England claimed far more than colleagues elsewhere in the country – 36 MPs made 900 claims for first class tickets costing £93,582.

Under expenses rules the amount an MP can claim is capped at the price of an ‘anytime standard open’ ticket for the same journey at the point they submit their claim. Anytime tickets allow travel on any train, rather than at a specific time. They are much more expensive than advance tickets for specific trains.

The cost of a first class advance single fare for a journey from Newcastle to London at 9:30am on 1 March for instance currently stands at £60 on the Trainline website.

But an anytime single ticket is £169, so an MP could claim the full first class fare - despite a standard advance single costing only £26.20.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance said MPs should be better organised to get cheaper rail tickets.

How much did each party claim for first class tickets?

MPs for the Labour party claimed the most for first class tickets. For the 2020/21 period 54 MPs for the opposition party made 995 claims totalling £91,402.

Conservative MPs were not far behind – 63 MPs made 974 claims costing £89,272.

MPs for the Scottish National Party also claimed tens of thousands of pounds for first class tickets. In total 20 SNP MPs made 194 claims, costing £22,087.

The number of claims does not equal the number of journeys as some tickets are for returns.

Which MP claimed the most for first class rail tickets?

MPs representing constituencies in the North West claimed far more than their colleagues in the rest of the country.

Of all claims for first class tickets two in five (41%) came from MPs in the North West. MPs in the region made 900 claims for first class tickets totalling £93,582.

The MP for Southport in Merseyside was found to have claimed the most for first class tickets.

Conserative MP, Damien Moore, made 74 claims for first class tickets totalling £9,383.

Mr. Moore’s team told NationalWorld all his claims for rail travel have been in keeping with IPSA’s independently set rules.

Chi Onwurah, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, made the greatest number of claims.

Ms Onwurah, who is the Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central in the North East, made 95 claims during the 2020/21 period costing £4,418. Of all her claims, 22 were for a dependent to travel.

A Labour Party spokesperson for Ms Onwurah said: “Average fares between the Newcastle and London route can cost up to £151 – and these journeys amount to much less at £46.50 per trip.

“Labour MPs are always mindful of getting the best deal for taxpayers, and these claims show that.”

Ms Onwurah is not the only MP to have claimed first class tickets for dependents.

Figures show 16 MPs made 89 claims for dependents to travel first class at a total cost of £5,770.

Almost half of the claims can be linked to Sir Graham Brady, the Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West in Greater Manchester.

Sir Brady, who is also Chair of the Conservative Party 1922 Committee, claimed 43 times for a dependant to travel first class costing £2,259. He also claimed 43 first class tickets for himself, and one for a staff member.

According to IPSA MPs are entitled to claim for travel for dependants if they are deemed to have caring responsibilities.

Sir Brady told NationalWorld that any claims for first class rail travel were cheaper than full standard class fare.

But NationalWorld found 93% of all rail fares claimed by Sir Brady during the year were for first class single tickets (85 of them). He claimed three times for standard fare tickets, and twice for first class returns.

Which MPs have claimed for Business or Club class on flights?

MPs also charged taxpayers almost £2,000 to fly Business or Club class in the 12 months to March 2021.

In total three MPs (all representing constituencies in Scotland) made nine claims for Business or Club class flights during the pandemic, totalling £1,908.

Ian Murray, the Labour MP for Edinburgh South, claimed the greatest number of times.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland made seven claims for flights to and from London at a cost of £1,309.

Three of his claims were for a dependent to travel, costing £472 in total.

Mr Murray was contacted for a comment but did not reply.

‘Get standard class cheaper’

Danielle Boxall, media campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said standard class tickets are normally always cheaper.

"Taxpayers expect politicians to keep their feet on the ground,” Ms Boxall said.

"If MPs can get organised to order a first class ticket in advance, they should usually be able to get standard class cheaper.

"Most people are happy to travel standard class, and these tickets are almost always better value for money."

IPSA, which is the public body responsible for regulating MPs’ expenses, said first class tickets can be claimed if certain conditions are met.

A spokesperson for IPSA said: “MPs can claim the cost of travel on parliamentary business, however the claims cannot exceed the cost of a standard class ticket on the day of purchase.

“First-class tickets are permitted if these conditions are met.”

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