Saturday, May 23, 2009

MPs Expenses: Labour's Khalid Mahmood Spent £2,575 Staying in 'Riot of Gold, Marble and Silk' Hotel with Girlfriend

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Hotel living: Khalid Mahmood spent thousands staying in an upmarket hotel in Kensington rather than in a second home. Photo courtesy of MailOnline

MAIL Online: Labour MP Khalid Mahmood is the latest to be sucked into the expenses scandal.

He stayed at a five-star hotel in London with his girlfriend and charged hundreds of pounds to the taxpayer as his second home allowance.

Mahmood, who is the MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, claimed a total of £1,350 for nine nights stay over a four-week period in 2004, when he stayed at The Bentley hotel in Kensington.

He also claimed £1,225 for five nights stay in 2008.

Mahmood used the hotel after separating from partner Nasim Akhtar, with whom he lived in Wembley, though this address was not given on his 2004 claims form.

He checked into the hotel with then girlfriend Elaina Cohen under the fake names Mr Khaled and Eleine Mahmood.

Mahmood denies any wrongdoing. He said of the hotel: 'It was close to the Tube station and it was easy to get to Parliament.' >>> | Saturday, May 23, 2009