When the Manchester Evening News recently mentioned an expense claim by a certain MP that included an expensive ink pen, we got curious. What other pen-related claims had been uncovered in the expense reports of MPs?
Turns out, there have been a few.
Gerald Kaufman, MP for Gorton, claimed £225 for a Viceroy Barley rollerball pen, according to the Evening News.
Iris Robinson, MP for Strangford, claimed £306 for a Montblanc and a bottle of ink (but wasn’t reimbursed), according to the BBC. We aren’t sure what kind of Montblanc.
Andrew Slaughter, MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd’s Bush, claimed £90 for a fountain pen nib, according to the Telegraph. No details on what kind of nib, or for which pen.
Tim Yeo, MP for South Suffolk, claimed £135 for repair of a fountain pen that was “one of a pair of fountain pens I have had since I entered parliament – and I always use it to sign letters,” according to the Telegraph. Again, no details on the kind of pen.
Well, at least the UK’s most influential people are setting an example by using pens and paper for their business. That’s good…right?
By the way, in the context of the above expense claims, this one just seemed downright hilarious:
Claire Curtis-Thomas, MP for Formby, claimed 45p for a ballpoint pen, according to the Formby Times.
If you’ve seen any other examples of MPs claiming pen or pen-related expenses, let us know.
I wonder if she’s feeling foolish now, considering the kind of pen she could have had.
MP for Formby claiming 45p?! That’s outrageous! That’s my tax money and I want it back! And the pen, I’ll take that too…