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British MP Billed Taxpayers for 'Servants' Wing'

Tory then sold house and evaded capital gains tax

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted May 28, 2009 7:49 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Just when the scandal over British MPs' expenses seemed to be petering out comes news that a Conservative legislator charged taxpayers $27,000 to build servants' quarters at his second home, the Times of London reports. Sir John Butterfill told the BBC the suggestion he had servants was a "gross misrepresentation." But then he slipped up when he tried to apologize for failing to separate his own home from "the servants', er, the staff wing."

Other Tory MPs have made similarly lavish claims, billing taxpayers to clean a moat and install a "floating duck island." But the revelations about Butterfill's country house have horrified the Conservative leadership, which has tried to rebrand the party in recent years. Butterfill sold the house in 2005 for nearly $2 million—then schemed to avoid paying capital gains tax.

A poster for an evening newspaper features its front page story about the British expenses scandal, as seen in in central London, Friday May 15, 2009.
A poster for an evening newspaper features its front page story about the British expenses scandal, as seen in in central London, Friday May 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, speaking to the media in London, Tuesday, May 12, 2009.
David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, speaking to the media in London, Tuesday, May 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Britain's Conservative Party leader David Cameron, backdropped by a portrait of late Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Britain's Conservative Party leader David Cameron, backdropped by a portrait of late Prime Minister Winston Churchill.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
A British member of Parliament billed the taxpayer $27,000 to build servants' quarters at his country home.
A British member of Parliament billed the taxpayer $27,000 to build servants' quarters at his country home.   (Shutterstock)
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown is seen at his monthly press conference at 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2009.
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown is seen at his monthly press conference at 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth ,Pool)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Observer
May 28, 2009 1:38 AM CDT
The Brits are the best in the world at using people and then acting arrogantly nonchalant about it.

The original story on Butterfill's tax evasion
Telegraph (UK)

More on the Newsnight interview
BBC

 
United Kingdom • British Parliament • tax evasion • Conservative Party • inappropriate expenses • staff • expenses

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