The Daily Telegraph today reveals that Brian Binley, a millionaire conservative MP, claimed more than £50,000 from the taxpayer to rent a flat from BCC, the database building firm he owns.
A House of Commons rule forbids MPs from renting properties from themselves or their companies, but the Telegraph reports that Binley claimed £1,500 a month to rent the flat for more than three years.
Binley now faces disciplinary action by Tory leader David Cameron.
According to BCC’s website, Binley created BCC Marketing in 1989 to offer a database building service to the direct marketing industry, and it has prospered since that time now employing some 100 people.
Binley, the MP for Northampton South since 2005, is chairman of BCC. The firm is run by managing director James Prince and a board of directors.
The Telegraph points out that unlike many politicians, Binley had a successful career as a businessman before being elected to parliament at the age of 63.
Soon after his election, Binley began claiming for a flat in Pimlico which Land Registry records show is owned by BCC Marketing Services, the Telegraph reports.
There was no one available for comment at BCC this morning when Marketing Direct called.
BCC’s website says that in 1993, Binley co-founded Beechwood House Publishing Company in 1993 to produce and publish directories. Two of its products, Binley's Directory of National Health Service Management and Binley's Directory of Local Government Management, quickly became market leaders, according the website.
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