Eight ministers in Boris Johnson’s new Cabinet are lining their pockets as landlords – while taxpayers foot the bill for their own rent.
Last year the eight claimed a total of £145,838 back from taxpayers for properties they live in while in London.
Meanwhile, each of them earns at least £10,000 in income from tenants.
Last night campaigners branded them “parasites” and accused them of abusing their positions to cash in.
Anny Cullum, of community action group ACORN, said: “This lays bare the shameless self-serving attitude of the current Conservative government.”
Defence secretary Ben Wallace claimed £27,550 for rent in 2018/19 but lets out a flat in south-west London.
Minister without portfolio and Tory Party chairman James Cleverly billed taxpayers £14,400 while letting out a house in Lewisham, south-east London – just seven miles from Westminster.
Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry claimed £13,050 for rent while getting income from three houses in Anglesey.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns claimed £18,900 for rent but let a property in Cardiff to tenants.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack claimed £11,310 while earning income from two cottages in his Dumfries and Galloway constituency.
Security Minister Brandon Lewis charged £21,795 while renting out his home in Essex.
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox charged £22,680 while letting a property in London and farmland in west Devon.
And Chief Whip Mark Spencer claimed £16,153 for hotels while pocketing rent on a farm.
On top of their £79,468 MPs’ salaries, ministers receive at least £31,680 for extra responsibilities.
None of the eight has broken any rules and all the information about rent was found through declarations MPs made on Parliament’s register of interests.
But Eileen Short of Defend Council Housing said: “They have no shame. We need to stop this gravy train.”
