(posted 7692 days ago)Telegraph
Cook faces eviction and big tax bill
By Toby Helm and Benedict Brogan
(Filed: 01/04/2003)Tony Blair was urged to evict Robin Cook from a "grace and favour" flat last night after it emerged that he is running his anti-war campaign while staying there at taxpayers' expense.
Mr Cook moved to 1 Carlton Gardens when he became Foreign Secretary six years ago and was allowed to remain after becoming Leader of the House. When he resigned from the Cabinet over the Iraq war two weeks ago he remained in the flat.
Alan Duncan, a Tory foreign affairs spokesman, demanded that Mr Cook be ordered out of the flat immediately. "It is an abuse," he said.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that Mr Blair and Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, who preferred his own home in Kennington to Carlton Gardens, decided that Mr Cook could stay until he found other accommodation. It is understood a deadline of Easter was set.
Mr Cook could face a considerable tax liability now he is a backbench MP. Benefits in kind, such as free accommodation, are taxable.
Linda Beaney, a residential estate agent, valued the flat at between £5 million and £7 million.
"To rent it would cost about £4,000 a week," she said.
Mr Cook could be taxed £2,000 for every week he remains.
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2003.