Furious MPs and Rishi Sunak have hit out after the expenses watchdog let them bill office Christmas parties to the taxpayer.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) was accused of “losing the plot” by Labour and Tory figures - and the PM pledged he would not claim from the fund.
John Cryer, chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, is writing to IPSA on behalf of opposition MPs to demand it "reconsider" the decision.
In a message to colleagues, he wrote: "This would clearly be inappropriate, especially during the Conservatives’ cost of living crisis."
Labour’s Jess Phillips said politicians will be “pilloried” for the policy - even though they won’t be allowed to claim for alcohol.
“I think it's really irresponsible to issue this guidance as if MPs have been clamouring for it when I've literally never heard anyone do that,” she tweeted.
“I will throw a Christmas party for my staff, it will be in my home where I will cook and pay for all of the food and drink. Once again I reiterate that there was no clamour for this from MPs and it's stupid,” the Birmingham Yardley MP added.
The prominent Labour figure said she’d be dusting off the Christmas tree she uses every year in her office, as well as “tinsel and baubles from Wilkos” which she paid for.
Rishi Sunak's official spokesman insisted he "doesn’t intend to use" the budget for a Christmas party - though he does hold separate taxpayer-funded Christmas receptions in his role as PM.
The PM's spokesman said: "Questions on these sorts of arrangements are a matter for Ipsa."
But he warned: "MPs will want to justify all spending for their constituents."
Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority needs to be less "naive". “People have not been asking for this. I don't think anyone will use it,” he added, pledging to pay for his office’s festive bash himself.
Mr Reynolds told Times Radio today: “I doubt anyone will be using it…And maybe Ipsa need to be a bit more savvy in terms of how they present what they're doing on this."
Tory MPs also piled in, with former Brexit secretary David Davis saying the expenses watchdog had "missed the mood of the age". The senior Tory told TalkTV: "I think it's bonkers, frankly."
Angela Richardson said Mrs Phillips’ comments were: “spot on.” She added: “It wouldn't have even occurred to me to ask for it, as I'm certain it wouldn't have occurred to any of my colleagues across the house.”
And Conservative MP Kevin Foster accused Ipsa of having “lost the plot”: “Staff events like this are not for the taxpayer to fund. [i’ve] never asked for this and won't use it.”
The guidance issued by Ipsa said: "MPs can claim the costs of food and refreshments for an office festive event under the discretion allowed as 'hospitality'."
It added that politicians must consider "value for money" and that "no claims are allowed for alcohol." MPs can also claim the cost of "festive decorations” for their office, Ipsa said.
The expenses watchdog insisted no rules had changed and it was simply clarifying the guidance to MPs. But a spokesperson added that MPs’ staff work hard and that it was “entirely appropriate” that they be rewarded. They noted that caseworkers deal with “distressing” issues in a “very challenging” environment.
“Any event must represent value for money, is subject to publication for transparency and must not be party political in nature. It must be funded within existing budgets. To suggest that there is anything inappropriate in this is simply incorrect,” the Ipsa spokesperson said.
