John Bercow orders £20,000 refurb of Speaker’s flat

The Daily Telegraph is at it again - and the new Speaker, John Bercow, has some explaining to do while his colleagues enjoy their summer holidays.

According to confidential plans leaked to the Telegraph - the paper that famously exposed MPs' phony expenses earlier this year - Bercow is planning to have his grace-and-favour apartment in the Palace of Westminster refurbished at a cost to the taxpayer of £20,000.

This from a man who took over the Speaker's seat - and the rent-free flat that goes with it - promising to restore trust in Parliament.

So, how deep is the doo-doo he finds himself in?

On the basic issue of whether he should be running up any expenses at all for refurbishing an already lavish apartment, he should be OK. As the youngest Speaker in modern times, he did explain when he won the job that, with three young children, some changes would be necessary.

So, the expenditure of £3,600 on fitting locks to the windows and £3,880 on planters to provide additional child safety on the terrace - all detailed in the leaked plans - will probably be deemed reasonable.

So, too, will the £1,087 spent on turning one of the apartment's two studies into a playroom. (While this may seem excessive, it should be remembered that the building is Grade 1 listed and overseen by English Heritage, so slapping on a coat of Crown magnolia is not an option.)

But - and it's a 'but' that could last all summer - do John and Sally Bercow really need to spend £6,764.30 of taxpayers' money on a new 'sofa suite' and a further £760 on window seat cushions for the drawing room?

This is a lot to spend on their own comfort - given that they consider a £479 bed from Ikea adequate for their housekeeper.

Among items ordered for the kitchen is a noticeboard. It seems a shame that the first use of it could be for the reminder: 'DON'T FORGET - SEND BACK SOFA'. ·