Politicsuk-propertyuk newsuk-properties

Six London Homes Tory MP 'Struggling' On £120k Could Have Rented

Six London Pads Tory MP 'Struggling' On £120k Could Have Rented
Asa Bennett
|

Mark Simmonds resigned as Foreign Office ministerafter claiming the 'lack of support' for MPs with families outside of London made finding somewhere to rent close to Westminster "intolerable".

Despite a £27,875 taxpayer funded housing allowance, Simmonds said that he was not prepared to 'travel extensively" to the House of Commons and that the allowance, which provides £20,600 for himself and an extra £2,425 for each of his three children, would force him to live in the "outer reaches of London". Simmonds' wife is paid up to £25,000-a-year to work as his office manager.

See also: Foreign Office In Crisis: Why Do David Cameron's Ministers Keep Quitting?

Simmonds said that MPs "clearly need" more money to rent flats in London to enable families to stay together. The MP, who represents the Lincolnshire constituency of Boston and Skegness, said that the thought of living in hotels for work filled him with "dread and horror".

Leaving aside the £89,435-a-year Simmonds made as a minister, here are six homes he could have rented for him and his family using only his £27,875 housing allowance

London Homes You Could Afford For £28,000
This flat is not in the "outer reaches" of London(01 of06)
Open Image Modal
For just under £26,000-a-year, Simmonds could rent this 3-bedroom apartment in Vauxhall, from which he can get to Parliament in minutes - if he can bear going on the bus.
This three-bedroom flat is very close(02 of06)
Open Image Modal
For just over £26,000-a-year, Simmonds could have this three-bedroom apartment just a few minutes walk away from Westminster, over near Vauxhall. (credit:Black Katz/Rightmove)
This plush apartment is just across a bridge(03 of06)
Open Image Modal
This three bedroom apartment is across Westminster Bridge from Parliament, at just over £26,000-a-year. Two of the bedrooms are spacious doubles and all bedrooms have built in wardrobe space. (credit:Haart/Rightmove)
This flat could have been perfect (04 of06)
Open Image Modal
For just over £26,000, Simmonds could have rented this 4 bedroom flat in St John's Wood, north London. Although it's not near Parliament, it's still in central London. Simmonds could also get to Westminster easily direct on the tube via the Jubilee Line.
This Pimlico pad is just under £27,000-a-year (05 of06)
Open Image Modal
For £26,640-a-year, Simmonds could have rented this 3-bedroom apartment in Pimlico, just down the road from Westminster. It boasts a reception room, and kitchen. (credit:Rightmove)
He could even live in Mark Carney's area(06 of06)
Open Image Modal
For £26,004-a-year, Simmonds could have snapped up this 3-bedroom flat in West Hampstead. He would be in the same area as Bank of England governor Mark Carney, and being in the zone 2 region, could easily get in to Westminster on the tube. (credit:Rightmove )
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip