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11 months ago
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North London MP Mike Freer has charged taxpayers £6 for a Pritt Stick among stationary costs that amount to more than £800.
The glue - famous for its smiling stick man logo - was purchased by the MP's office earlier this year.
It is not clear whether the glue was a single stick or a multipack, but packs of four are £4.99 on Amazon.
It appears under stationary and printing costs of £816.22 listed for 2023/24 on the website of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, the independent body that regulates and administers the business costs of the UK's 650 elected members.
It was purchased on May 10, 2023, and is simply described as 'Pritt Stick.' The basic annual salary for an MP is £86,584.
Former banker Mr Freer has been Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green since the 2010 General Election and was re-elected in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
North London MP Mike Freer (pictured) has charged taxpayers £6 for a Pritt Stick among his £816 stationary costs
The glue - famous for its smiling stick man logo - was purchased by the MP's office earlier this year
He has also served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Legal Services since September 2022.
But he previously worked for several fast-food chains, including Pizzaland, Pizza Hut and KFC, before he switched to a management job in the financial sector.
He also served as Leader of Barnet Council between 2006 and 2009.
MPs have been routinely ridiculed for their stationary costs, with some claiming for items worth just pennies.
It emerged in 2014 that then Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt – who was worth as much as £20m - claimed 5p from taxpayers for just one paper clip.
And David Cameron also put in a series of miserly claims, including 8p for a box of paperclips, while Cabinet Minister Ken Clarke claimed 11p for a ruler.
It was then suggested that tiny claims would be lumped together to save MPs embarrassment.
Finchley and Golders Green Labour hit out at the glue cost.
A spokesperson said: 'This is maddening.
While Mike Freer is asking taxpayers for £6 to cover the cost of a Pritt Stick - on top of his nearly £90,000 MP's salary and the allowance he's provided to run his office - local teachers are having to dig into their own pockets to cover similar items for their students.
'You couldn't make it up.'
Mike Freer has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
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