The Daily Telegraph are reporting today that Jeffrey Donaldson claimed for watching movies in a hotel room “nearly every time” he was in the capital during a period between 2004 and 2005 when he began sharing a flat with Sammy Wilson.
Mr Donaldson, 46, a married father of two, used his Commons second home allowances to pay for films in his hotel room nearly every time he travelled from Northern Ireland to the capital on parliamentary business.
In total, Mr Donaldson submitted second home claim forms, including receipts, relating to 68 pay-to-view movies.
All of the expenses claims were paid in full by the House of Commons fees office.
Most of the films appeared on the hotel bills as “Room Service 2”, meaning that their nature was not obvious to officials. On one occasion, the item “Room Service 2” was circled on the receipt by Mr Donaldson or staff working for him, and the word “food” written next to it, before the claim was submitted.
I used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t.
Former UUP staffer, currently living in London. @mjshilliday
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