First class travel on the Danczuk 'gravy train'

Photo: Journeaux

Simon Danczuk

From May 2010, when Simon Danczuk was elected MP for Rochdale, until April 2015, Mr Danczuk cost the taxpayer over £1.2million in salary and expenses, figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority reveal.

His expense claims reveal that Mr Danczuk is fond of travelling first class - from April 2014 to date, Mr Danczuk has travelled to and from London first class on more than 100 occasions. In contrast, Heywood and Middleton MP, Liz McInnes has never travelled first class, always purchasing a standard class ticket.

Asked why he needed to travel first class, Mr Danczuk refused to comment.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Rochdale, Councillor Andy Kelly said: "And so the Danczuk gravy train rolls on. It begs the question just when is enough enough?

"For Danczuk to refuse to comment speaks volumes about his arrogance and his disdain for taxpayers who fund his extravagance."

Mr Danczuk was recently embroiled in a similar controversy when he was accused of refusing to fly economy class.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/99104/simon-danczuk-in-economy-class-flight-snub-controversy

In the last financial year (2014/15), the Rochdale MP claimed over £175,000 in expenses, in addition to his £66,396 salary.

In the past two years, the Labour MP has also trousered £53,000 in outside earnings, mainly payments from newspapers, publishers and broadcasters, leading one wag on Twitter to nickname the Labour MP Simon 'Dan-kerching'!

Between 2010 and 2015 Mr Danczuk employed his wife, Karen, at a cost of around £135,000 to taxpayers. Mrs Danczuk was also a local councillor between May 2011 and May 2015 receiving £38,000 in allowances paid by the taxpayer.

Mrs Danczuk's taxpayer-funded remuneration as a caseworker in Mr Danczuk's constituency office includes controversial overtime payments. Rochdale Online revealed last week that Mr Danczuk paid his wife a total of 621 hours overtime - paid at time and a half - on top of her salary.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/99129/the-danczuks-go-bananas-with-overtime-payments

When asked to comment about the overtime payments, a spokesman for Simon Danczuk said: “This member of staff was on a part time contract of four hours a week for a significant period over the last Parliament, but regularly worked additional days during busy periods."

However, Peter Davis, Compliance Officer of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority revealed that "Karen Danczuk reduced her constituency office working hours to four hours per week with effect from 12 June 2014." Hence Mrs Danczuk was employed full-time for over four years and part time for just one year.

Asked how Mr Danczuk can square his statement that his wife was employed on a "part time contract of four hours a week for a significant period over the last Parliament", with that of the IPSA Compliance Officer, Mr Danczuk's spokesman said: "Our comment on this hasn't changed."

The Lib Dems have called for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to investigate the employment of Mrs Danczuk by Mr Danczuk.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/99299/lib-dems-put-formal-complaint-about-simon-danczuk-to-the-independent-parliamentary-standards-authority