Fiona McTaggart MP, Labour MP for Slough, claimed Parliamentary expenses for riding her bike into work, despite being one of the richest MPs. The 34 claims for a total of £46.10, have been widely criticised, as riding a bike incurs no cost to the rider.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which has overseen payments to MPs since the expenses scandal before the 2010 election, allows MPs to claim 20p per mile for riding their bike.
But Ms McTaggart is unlikely to need the money, she is one of the richest Labour MPs. The daughter of Baronet Sir John McTaggart, she inherited an estimated £1.3m in 1987. However, her wealth is likely to have grown significantly in the quarter of a century since then.
The former teacher was once described by Ben Brogan from the Telegraph as “a Scottish laird who is as wealthy as she is humourless”.
Other MPs who claimed for their bike rides include Labour MP Hugh Bayley, who made claims totaling £205 and Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb who claimed £12.50.
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