The disclosure of the price limits for MPs setting up second homes on expenses has prompted East End Charity the Environment Trust to publish its own ‘Setting up Home’ list based on furnishing the showflat at its sustainable £5.2m Sheffield Bright Homes Scheme.

With sustainability and recycling in mind all the furnishings have been bought from websites like Ebay and Freecycle. And they are all in excellent condition according to the charity’s chief executive and sustainability champion Jon Aldenton.

Total expenditure? £1200 – not much more than the price of a state of the art television and a fancy food processor on MP’s John Lewis list.

Jon Aldenton said: “This list is a real slap in the face for people trying to put a home together on a limited budget. No wonder there has been a reluctance to publish the details of what can only be described as excessive allowances for MP’s second homes at a time when many families are struggling to keep their only homes. We would be happy to advise MPs on furnishing their second homes on a budget and we would be even happier to put the difference towards one of our green housing schemes for people who really need a home of their own.”

For more information on The Environment Trust visit www.envirotrust.org

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