A government minister, two Conservative members of parliament, and an SNP representative erroneously claimed hundreds of pounds in traffic penalties as expenses.
Contrary to the regulations, a Tory minister and three other lawmakers claimed hundreds of pounds in driving fines as expenses.
They are currently being asked to repay the money.
Amanda Solloway, a minister in the energy department who previously worked under Suella Braverman at the Home Office, was among the MPs who filed a claim for the fines.
The Derby North representative, who is also a government deputy, appealed an £80 fixed penalty notice issued in July 2020 by Transport for London.
Fellow Conservative MP Simon Hoare, who represents North Dorset, appealed four times in November 2019 for £80 in fines.
Mr. Hoare is also the chairman of the House of Commons Northern Ireland affairs committee.
In December 2021, Bim Afolami, another Conservative MP, claimed two £80 fines.
Mr. Afolami, whose constituency is Hitchin and Harpenden, stated to the PA news agency that the expense claim was “entirely accidental.”
“I repaid every cent as soon as I found out about it,” he added.
In January 2022, Dave Doogan, SNP member of parliament for Angus, filed a claim for a £160 sanction.
The claims were detailed in the expenses register, and The Independent was the first to report on them.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which approves and pays expenses, acknowledged that it improperly authorized the payments.
A spokesperson for the watchdog stated, “Under IPSA rules, members of Congress are prohibited from claiming penalty charges and fines.”
“In some circumstances, ISPA’s checks failed to identify these claims, and some of them were paid.
“We will contact legislators and request repayment where applicable. We have altered our procedures to ensure no future claims of this nature are paid. And we will remind members of parliament of the scheme’s rules.”
The controversy stems from Rishi Sunak’s decision not to initiate a formal investigation into Suella Braverman. Despite reports that she asked civil servants to arrange a private awareness course after being ticketed for speeding.
Thangam Debbonaire, the shadow leader of the House of Commons for Labour, stated to The Independent, “While Rishi Sunak’s MPs break the rules and attempt to make taxpayers foot the bill, working people are left struggling to cope with the rising Tory cost-of-living crisis.
“Members of the Conservative Party who disregard the rules undermine public confidence in the system. Rishi Sunak must crack down on rule-breakers within his party and deliver for the British people.
