Conservative MP Christopher Chope who claimed for the repair of a sofaChristopher Chope, who employs his wife Christine as his secretary, transported the sofa from his second home in London to a tradesman near his main residence in his constituency of Christchurch, Dorset.
Mr Chope also used his additional costs allowance (ACA) to fund the £10,377 repair of the roof of the 200-year-old London house that he jointly owns with his wife. He kitted out the property with a bathroom costing more than £2,600 to buy and install – again on the taxpayer.
In March last year the MP submitted the bill for £881.25 to strip down and recover the Chesterfield sofa. The Dorset craftsman sent the invoice to Mr Chope’s constituency home even though he claimed the cost for his second home.
Mr Chope said last night that he and his wife had loaded the Chesterfield into their Volvo estate and taken it from London to Christchurch where the local craftsman offered better “value for money” and a “better job”.
He said: “We had a Chesterfield which was unserviceable and what were we to do? Either we get rid of it, or we do something about it.” The sofa was re-covered in the original calico and not a new covering, the MP added.
He said the roof and bathroom claims were for essential repair work.
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