MP living in 'cheap as chips' student accommodation

New Southport MP, Patrick Hurley, has opted for money savvy lodgings by staying at £80-a-night student accommodation. He's been spending his London nights in a "cheap as chips" room at the London School of Economics (LSE) since being elected this July 4, according to PoliticsHome.

Mr Hurley is utilising the budget-friendly option three nights a week until the conclusion of his party's conference later this month. While MPs normally maintain two residences, one in their constituency and another near Westminster, with expenses covering lodging Mr Hurley prefers the spartan "box" at LSE over a more typical second home setup.

Giving an insight to PoliticsHome, he explained how the rooms usually reserved for students are rented out during the holidays. "What I found is that at LSE, while the students aren't there throughout the summer, they rent out rooms to overwhelmingly [holiday-goers] but also anybody that wants a room for the night. And the rates, I'll be honest, the rates are cheap as chips."

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"For a few weeks over the summer, and a few weeks up until the conference recess is over, I was quite happy to do that, and make sure that the taxpayer isn't on the hook for excessive expenses," reports Lancs Live.

During this time, the LSE accommodation hosts mainly families on holiday, Mr Hurley said, adding that he doesn't know of other MPs sharing his unique living arrangement, though he's aware some are "living out of hotels" and "B&Bs".

He likened LSE to "almost like a Butlin's in central London, which wasn't what I was expecting when I got elected. It does the trick."

Mr. Hurley explained that the swift transition into summer recess and then party conference season post-election led to his choice of student lodgings. With 335 fresh faces among the 650 MPs elected in July, Mr. Hurley being one, he remarked on the unexpected pressures faced by new MPs.

"MPs don't get provided with accommodation when they get elected, and it's all on ourselves to go and find somewhere to live. I don't want to come across as pleading for members of parliament and say that things need to change to make our lives easier, because we're in a very privileged position.

"I do think, though, that something needs to change in terms of making things slightly less frantic after an election where you're trying to set up an office in Westminster."