John Greenway claimed for petunias, geraniums, fuchsia and lobelia plants, a rose and a lavender bush for his designated second homeMr Greenway, the MP for Ryedale, also spent more than £3,500 on household goods and furnishings, including redecorating bills, a £399 flat screen television set and crockery from the Habitat store.
Expenses filed under the additional costs allowance (ACA) show that Mr Greenway claimed for petunias, geraniums, fuchsia and lobelia plants, a rose and a lavender bush for his designated second home.
He also claimed for a box of matches worth 59p as well as two boxes of firelighters worth 99p each, four bags of compost, a trellis and plant food. He regularly claimed for £400 of food a month.
Under Commons rules, MPs are only able to claim for garden maintenance bills. Mr Greenway claimed more than £1,900 to redecorate the hall, kitchen, bathroom and stairs in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
His claims show he billed the taxpayer for eight mulled wine sachets in the run-up to Christmas, 2004.
He also claimed for cups and saucers worth £44, a £24 lavatory brush and a casserole dish worth £30.
At the end of that year, 2004-05, Mr Greenway submitted a bill for £105 for food, with a handwritten note saying: “I believe there is slightly more than £100 in the allowance still to claim. Please advise when making payment.” He received £102.07 from the fees office.
Mr Greenway bought the house in south London with his wife Sylvia for £211,000. Shortly after the redecoration and investment in his garden, they sold the house for £493,000 in September 2006. They then bought a property in west London.
Yesterday the new owner, Simone Lester, 37, told The Daily Telegraph that the 15ft by 20ft patio garden was a “key selling point” when she and her partner bought the three-bedroom house.
Miss Lester, who works for the Department of Health, said: “When we came for the viewing, I was struck by how immaculate the house was.
“Mr Greenway showed us around and it was clear that he was immensely proud of the garden. The garden was a key selling point.’’
Last night, Mr Greenway said he had paid capital gains tax when he sold he property. He had not claimed any of the moving costs or stamp duty from the taxpayer.
He said: “All the claims which I have made over my 22 years in Parliament have been made in good faith and were approved by the fees office without query.
“The pattern of expenditure on my London home over a number of years has reflected precisely the expenditure and living costs that I pay for myself at my main home in North Yorkshire. The repairs and redecoration which I claimed for 2004 and 2005 were the first I claimed since buying the house and represent normal wear and tear on the property.”
John Greenway
Job: Backbench Conservative MP
Salary: £64,766
Total second home claims
2004-05: £20,902
2005-06: £21,634
2006-07: £22,109
2007-08: £23,082
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