Tony Vaughan MP Claimed £60 in Expenses for Swiss Cheese Plant While Earning £40,000 in Extra Legal Work

Last month, The Shepway Vox Team reported that Tony Vaughan KC MP, the recently elected Labour representative for Folkestone & Hythe, had claimed expenses for two plants purchased for his constituency office. Now, following a Freedom of Information request to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), we can update readers: the £60 plant was a Swiss cheese plant (Monstera Deliciosa – pictured), a popular decorative item commonly available at retail for half that price. The second plant, costing £45, remains unidentified.

Both expenses were submitted in November 2024 under the category of “Other office equipment” and were approved in full by IPSA. While such purchases are permitted under the rules governing MPs’ office costs—intended to support a functional and professional working environment—the claims have drawn scrutiny on multiple fronts. One of the plants, a £60 Monstera deliciosa (commonly known as a Swiss cheese plant), is widely available from UK retailers for between £20 and £30, raising questions about whether better value for money could have been achieved. In addition, the supporting documentation for both claims consisted of handwritten paper receipts rather than official, itemised shop receipts. Though not explicitly prohibited by IPSA, the use of informal documentation has prompted further concern about transparency and the standard of evidence expected when public funds are being claimed—particularly at a time when many constituents are facing financial hardship.

The IPSA Funding Handbook (2024/25) explicitly states that MPs should ensure all claims represent value for money and are for parliamentary purposes only. There is no suggestion that Vaughan’s claims breached any of these rules.

However, since the original report, attention has turned to the broader context of Vaughan’s financial position. According to the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, the MP has earned more than £40,000 in outside income for legal work in recent months, primarily from his ongoing role as a practising barrister.

Payments disclosed include:

• £4,899.02 for 20 hours’ work from Doughty Street Chambers;

• £7,992.78 for 40 hours of work completed “Payment for work done before 4 July 2024”
• £2,563.60 for 10 hours; “Payment for work done before 4 July 2024”

• £305.37 for 4 hours of legal services via Garden Court Chambers;

• Additional payments exceeding £20,000 for pre-election work paid after July 2024.

Vaughan has also accepted two research support packages from The Refugee, Asylum and Migration Policy Project (RAMP), valued at £3,120 and £5,280 respectively, covering a four-month period from October 2024 to March 2025. These services supported his work as an MP but were provided externally and declared in line with parliamentary rules.

In addition, he undertook two international trips funded by outside bodies:

• A £3,887 visit to Beijing in January 2025, funded by the Great Britain China Centre, to participate in UK–China political dialogue on artificial intelligence.

• A £1,170 trip to Cairo in February 2025, paid for by The Refugee, Asylum, Migration & Policy (RAMP), to visit a UNHCR refugee facility and engage with regional stakeholders.

While all declarations and claims are within IPSA and parliamentary standards, critics argue that even modest expenses — such as a £60 plant — can raise public concern when submitted by MPs with significant outside earnings and travel privileges.

Observers have suggested that alternatives such as accepting a donated plant, purchasing second-hand, or sourcing from a local community garden could have demonstrated greater sensitivity to the public mood amid ongoing economic hardship for businesses and constiuents alike.

Tony Vaughan MP was asked to comment but declined to respond — as did the plants.

The Shepway Vox Team

Discernibly Different Dissent