Millions of Brits are bracing for another council tax hike, but one MP doesn’t seem too worried. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has been charging taxpayers more than £400 a month in council tax for her second home—a Grade II-listed farmhouse in Essex.
Her six-bedroom property, rented using her MP expenses, falls under Band H—the highest council tax band in England. That means she claimed nearly £4,000 last year just to cover her council tax bill.
📜 Within the rules, but fair?
MPs representing areas outside London can claim expenses for a second home. However, Badenoch’s constituency borders the capital, where MPs aren’t allowed to claim for extra accommodation. Despite this, she had the 23rd highest accommodation claim out of 664 MPs last year.
Critics say her claims don’t sit well with her calls for lower government spending. Her office declined to comment on the matter.
😡 Campaigners call it an ‘insult’
Social issues campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa didn’t hold back.
“While countless people scrape by on a fraction of Kemi’s salary, she claims £4,000 a year in expenses to cover her own council tax. This isn’t just unfair—it’s an insult.”
Labour’s Issy Waite, who ran against Badenoch, agreed.
“It’s concerning to see the Leader of the Opposition pass this bill onto taxpayers, especially when so many are struggling with the cost of living.”
🏠 A ‘stunning’ second home
Badenoch’s expenses cover a property that boasts five bedrooms, three living rooms, a kitchen, and a separate guest annexe. Described as a “stunning Grade II-listed detached farmhouse,” it comes with “beautiful extensive gardens.”
She currently claims £2,700 a month in rent for the property, though it reportedly costs more. Her husband, a Deutsche Bank banker, tops up the difference. However, taxpayers are covering the full council tax bill.
📈 Council tax hikes—just not for her
Most households are about to see their council tax bills rise by up to 5% next week. Some councils have even applied for increases of 10%. That means the average Band D home has seen a 20% rise in just five years.
Badenoch recently took a swipe at Labour councils, claiming they “cost you more and deliver less.” But she has been noticeably quiet about her own council tax expenses.
📊 Other MPs claim far less—or nothing at all
We checked the expenses claims of MPs in neighbouring constituencies. Four of them claim no accommodation costs at all. In fact, Badenoch’s council tax claim is nearly twice as high as the next largest, with most MPs in her region claiming significantly less.
Some senior Tories—including former PMs Rishi Sunak and Theresa May—chose not to claim second home expenses, even though they could have.
🤔 Is this the leadership voters want?
With a cost-of-living crisis deepening and taxes rising, Badenoch’s expenses raise uncomfortable questions. While it’s within the rules, many will wonder if it’s the right look for someone positioning herself as a champion of “smaller government” and “lower spending.”
Her office declined to comment.
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