This story [1] was originally published on OpenDemocracy.org.
   License [2]: Creative Commons 4.0 - Attributions/No Derivities/
   international.

   --------------------------------------------------------------


A quarter of Tory MPs are private landlords
By:   []
Date: None

A quarter of all Conservative MPs are landlords making money from private property.

Analysis by openDemocracy has revealed that 90 Tory MPs boost their income by at least £10,000 a year thanks to rental properties.

The landlords include Boris Johnson, who started renting out his Grade II-listed cottage in Oxfordshire last month, having reportedly advertised it at £4,250 a month.

The prime minister also part-owns houses in London and Somerset, which he also rents out.

We win on government secrecy! We’ve just won a three-year transparency battle against Michael Gove’s department. Can you help us keep fighting government secrecy? Donate now

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, earns rental income from a farmhouse, land and other buildings in Somerset, as well as from a residential property in London.

Other landlords include Sajid Javid, the new health secretary, defence secretary Ben Wallace, and the government’s chief whip, Mark Spencer.

In total, 115 (18%) MPs across all parties have declared earning money from rent, with Tories making up the vast majority. This compares to around 3% of the UK’s adult population, meaning MPs are roughly six times more likely to be landlords.

The percentage of landlords rises to 27% among MPs appointed as ministers or whips – including seven of the 25 MPs who attend Cabinet.

[1] Url: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/quarter-tory-mps-are-private-landlords/
[2] url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/
   url: https://theconversation.com/us/republishing-guidelines

OpenDemocracy via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/opendemocracy/