Article: MINISTERS CASH IN ON TWO HOMES LOOPHOLE; (1)LONDON: [pounds sterling]438,000 MORTGAGE DES RES: The couple's Edwardian townhouse in middle-class Stoke Newington, near good schools (2)CASTLEFORD: [pounds sterling]142,000 MORTGAGE CASH BONUS: A remortgage has released equity in the house they claim is their main residence (3) POLITICAL PARTNERS: Yvette Cooper and Ed Balls on their way to a Cabinet meeting last week.

Byline: Jonathan Oliver

CABINET husband-and-wife team Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper were last nightaccused of exploiting Commons expenses rules to buy a [pounds sterling]655,000 home and gettheir children into a top state school.

The pair, who were both promoted by Gordon Brown, have registered theirfour-bedroom North London house as a 'second home' under parliamentary rules,which entitles them to allowances of up to [pounds sterling]44,000 a year to subsidise their[pounds sterling]438,000 mortgage.

They also have a 'weekend' property in Yorkshire, which they used to call theirsecond home. But by instead declaring their more expensive London house ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!