Clegg gives profit from sale of home to taxpayer

Is Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg making a last-ditch bid to save his party from a pummelling in council elections in the north of England next month? The deputy PM has reportedly sold his constituency home in Sheffield and is donating the £38,750 profit that he has made on it to the taxpayer.

Clegg could have pocketed the sum under current Parliamentary rules, but he has instead decided to give the money to the taxpayer - a decision that he modestly explained in an exclusive interview with his local newspaper The Star.

"The house was bought in 2006 for £280,000 and sold for £325,000. The profit is £38,750 after deduction of fees and other costs. I have written a cheque to the House of Commons authorities to make sure that the money goes back to the taxpayer."

He magnanimously added: "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. I don't want to be holier than though about it but the old expenses system made people very angry."

The whiter-than-white Sheffield Hallam MP fails to remind readers of his own experiences under the old expenses system. Last year the Daily Telegraph revealed that between 2005 and 2009 Clegg claimed £83,824 in costs on the house through his MP expenses.

This included £1,018 in monthly mortgage interest payments; £9,244 in legal costs and stamp duty; £2,600 on a kitchen; and £5,857 on decorating. He was ordered to repay £910 of gardening costs by MP watchdog Sir Thomas Legg, who deemed the "pruning of apple and plum trees" and maintenance of a rose garden beyond the pale.

The timing of Clegg's decision does seem very fortuitous indeed to the Lib Dems. They are the largest party on Sheffield council, but are vulnerable to a small Labour advance there on May 5.

However, judging by the strength of feeling against the party and Clegg in particular in the city, it appears likely that even this late attempt to curry favour may fall flat.

Some wags are already suggesting that Clegg is merely unburdening himself of a property which, after the next election, will no longer be his constituency residence should the 10,000 students of Sheffield Hallam University remember the Lib Dem leader's broken promises on tuition fees and vote accordingly. ·