London: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has courted controversy as it was revelled that he used his office expenses to pay for photo shoots.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Foreign Secretary spent almost GBP 30,000 of taxpayers’ money on repairs, decorations and furnishings in five years.
Miliband's use of a professional photographer will be made public for the first time today when the UK Parliament publishes all recent MPs’ claims.
The report now reveals that he used his office expenses to pay for two photo shoots amid speculation that he was pushed by a section of the party, which is anxious about it poll prospects in next year's general elections, to launch a bid for leadership of the Labour party.
The photo shoots were organised in his constituency and paid for using his office allowance, then known as the Incidental Expenses Provision, the report said.
The first dated May 9, 2008 cost GBP 125. It was described on the invoice by a local photographer as "photographic work undertaken of David Miliband in his constituency".
The second photo shoot, using the same photographer and costing GBP 100, was described on the invoice as "photographic work undertaken of David Miliband MP during constituency visits… for newsletter". It states that Cabinet minister posed for the photographs on June 6th, 2008.
However, a spokesman for Miliband defended his action saying the photographs were taken and "used for his constituency website and Parliamentary reports".
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 11:30