Sky Sports paid on the taxpayer - Peter Bone's expenses revealed

11.21.16pm GMT Thu 10th Dec 2009

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Wellingborough Kevin Barron has reacted with disbelief - after it was revealed today that Wellingborough's Conservative MP Peter Bone had claimed for a Sky Sports television package on parliamentary expenses.

Peter Bone's claims from the 2008/9 tax year - published today on the House of Commons website - shows claims for a Sky Sports television package, included on a subscription to Virgin Media, alongside a whopping £4320 claimed for food.

"While his constituents have had to cut back on luxuries due to the recession and while he campaigns in parliament to abolish the minimum wage on which many struggling families rely, Peter Bone appears to believe that he is owed a free dinner by the tax payer." commented Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Kevin Barron.

"The Conservative Borough Council is cutting back services and the Conservative County Council is closing down care homes." Kevin continued. "Yet Peter Bone MP has put in for luxuries such as Sky Sports TV. We all enjoy watching our favourite teams play, but we don't expect our neighbours to pay for it."

"In the working world I come from expenses are for essentials and attempting to claim for Sky Sports TV would get you fired. Peter Bone must explain to his constituents why he feels it is his right to have such luxuries paid for by the tax payers of this country."

"MPs are responsible to their constituents and the country as a whole, and Peter Bone needs to explain why he feels we should trust him after this. He owes the people of Wellingborough and Rushden an explanation, and if he cannot explain himself adequately he must apologise and pay back the money."