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Donaldson defends his £410 curtains
Friday, 29 May 2009
MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Mark Durkan are among the latest politicians to have their second home claims examined in the Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper also discloses that DUP MP Donaldson claimed £410 for curtains which were purchased in Northern Ireland.
Mr Donaldson, who shares a flat in Greenwich with party colleague Sammy Wilson, said the East Antrim MP bought the curtains in Larne.
“The Fees Office checked that even though they had been bought in Northern Ireland they were being used in London, which they were,” he said. “They would have been almost double the price if we had bought them in London.”
On day 21 of the newspaper’s probe into MPs’ expenses, it said Mr Donaldson claimed £6,150 in stamp duty and £1,406 in solicitors’ fees.
Yesterday’s revelations also include a £352 hotel bill for SDLP leader Mark Durkan which stated “room for two”.
But, when it was queried, the Foyle MP said “he had sole occupancy of a double room”. Mr Durkan was shown to claim £1,495 a month in rent on a London flat.
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Lisburn Constituent asks
Who exactly were the curtains for?
Was it Jeffrey Donaldson or was it for Sammy Wilson?
Why did Sammy Wilson not claim for half/
What were the exact dimensions of the curtains, how many pairs of curtains and what was cost pair sq metre.
I wish to compare Dekko or Ikea curtains to the curtains obtained in Larne.
Was there any connection between DUP and curtain supplier.
Why were the curtains not sourced within the Lisburn constituency?
Dekko ready made curtains are c £11
Posted by ITS CURTAINS4DUP | 04.06.09, 14:51 GMT
lets be honest,its going to be curtains for a lot of m.ps at the moment, no matter what elections are coming,your public have lost their faith in you guys and gals,its time to work at restoring the faith and actually going out to do your job,health service,education,community,the economy the list is endless you should be making our lives better as well as your own.....or is it just the big pay off cheque youre all looking for now, even if youre sacked.shame on you all,we have had enough.
Posted by oliver | 29.05.09, 22:49 GMT
Stephen M I am fascinated by your confidence that my aged frame could climb on to a rooftop and scream. 'Directing' silly Green Groups might indeed be a challenging but unrewarding concept. Jeffrey Donaldson was on the Westminster Environmental Committee. He sat alongside our groups and supported us in Dunmurry -Link Road issue -Incapacity of WaterNI to cope with additional loading caused by over-development -Flood Plane Development, and supported us on many local Planning issues.
Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 29.05.09, 16:34 GMT
Stephen M I am fascinated by your confidence that my aged frame could climb on to a rooftop and scream. 'Directing' Green Groups is indeed a challenging concept, although many spurious supporters are profiting -in the business of selling untried notions.
Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 29.05.09, 16:19 GMT
The Daily Telegraph is scraping the barrell a bit now...
Posted by Liam | 29.05.09, 15:51 GMT
Andy,
"Can I get the tax payer to pay for my curtains?"
Yes you can, get elected as an MP/MEP and it really is not a problem!!
Posted by StephenM | 29.05.09, 15:32 GMT
Can I get the tax payer to pay for my curtains?
Posted by Andy | 29.05.09, 15:09 GMT
Malachy,
If Jeffers had have been the Director of a green group you would have been screaming from the rooftops, what gives? Finding it difficult to accept the righteous right aren't so righteous afterall? Where is the balanced criticism? I guess my impression's of you were right all along!
Stephen M,
And that makes it allright does it?
Posted by M S | 29.05.09, 15:02 GMT
If Jeffrey picked them himself I'm sure they're lovely...
Posted by Gerry | 29.05.09, 14:49 GMT
All this is really small beer.
Next week, when you vote for your MEP, they will get a weekly allowance of £3500, that's just under £200,000 per year, oh, and they don't have to submit a single receipt.
Puts a set of chintz curtains in the shade, doesn't it?
Posted by StephenM | 29.05.09, 12:42 GMT
Well, at least he supported the local economy ;-)
Posted by cd | 29.05.09, 12:21 GMT
There is a lack of clear protocol to cover the anomalies of being required to live near Westminster. It has become too easy to smear good decent and very hardworking people working in our interests.The media have now improved their sales, and can move on: time to give nitpicking a rest.
Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 29.05.09, 11:06 GMT
I voted for Jeffrey once when he was in the UUP then he stole my vote and took it to the DUP. I just have horrible imagery of him and Sammy sunbathing at their London flat!
Posted by MiHe | 29.05.09, 10:52 GMT
Well said Jeffrey, you actually SAVED the taxpayer £410 because if you had bought those same curtains in London they would have cost twice the price you paid....well done, you should get an award
Posted by Terry | 29.05.09, 09:21 GMT