Clegg gives £30K to taxpayer
Nick Clegg has said he is ‘leading by example’ after selling his Sheffield home and returning the profit of £38,750 to the taxpayer.
The four bedroom semi-detached house in Mr Clegg’s constituency was funded through the MPs’ expenses system.
New expenses rules coming into force next year will make MPs sell their second homes and rent properties instead.
But current parliamentary regulations would allow the Lib Dem leader to keep the profit on the sale.
The deputy prime minister told the Sheffield Star he did not want to adopt a “holier than thou” attitude, but encouraged other MPs to follow-suit.
“It’s not something that is required of me and I expect not all other MPs will do the same but it’s my personal choice to lead by example,” Mr Clegg said.
“I don’t want to be holier than thou about it but the old expenses system made people very angry. MPs should get out of the property game and it’s something I pushed for.”
The Lib Dem leader said he bought the property from a friend for £280,000 in 2006 and sold it for £325,000. The profit of £38,750 takes into account fees and costs.
“I have written a cheque to the House of Commons authorities to make sure that the money does back to the taxpayer,” he said.
The Lib Dem leader has now moved into a two-bedroom rented flat.
