Stormont car charging: UUP MLA says travel expenses not a 'direct repayment' of electric costs - as Assembly confirms they do cover fuel
Assembly officials have confirmed that a travel allowance for MLAs is designed to cover their fuel, but the UUP’s Robbie Butler – who charged his car for free at Stormont – says the money is not “direct repayment” of electricity costs.
The Lagan Valley MLA says the expenses are “intended to contribute towards the general costs of travel” – but he has “ceased using the facility” and looks forward to a new policy which “continues to recognise the environmental benefits of EV travel” while also maintaining public confidence.
It comes as the DUP, UUP and Alliance have said that any of their politicians who charged their cars at free charging stations will reimburse the public. However, it is unclear how that will be done, as the BBC’s Nolan Show has reported that data is wiped after just seven days.
Since 2015, politicians, their staff and Assembly officials have been allowed to charge their electric vehicles (EVs) free of charge at parliament buildings, despite members of the public having to pay on the rest of the Stormont estate.
Sinn Fein has said none of their MLAs “uses” the charging points – while the SDLP has none of its representatives have availed of the facilities.
MLAs receive a generous allowance for travel to the Assembly – as well as journeys around their own constituencies. After the story was first reported by the BBC’s Brendan Hughes on Wednesday, Stormont officials said that the Assembly Travel Allowance (ATA) “is designed to cover the general costs of travel – this includes wear and tear of the vehicle, motor tax, insurance, maintenance and depreciation”.
When asked by the News Letter to clarify whether it was intended to cover fuel costs, an Assembly spokesperson said ATA “is designed to cover running and maintenance costs, which includes fuel”.
Mr Butler posted on social media to say he had “made occasional use of the charging facilities for partial charging”, but his “main vehicle charging is always done at home”.
Addressing his involvement after he was named in the media, the Lagan Valley MLA posted on social media platform X on Thursday night, saying “accountability, transparency and truth are important” – and that the “provision of workplace EV charging is fully compliant with Assembly policy and HMRC guidance”.
Mr Butler said: “I have claimed only those allowances available under the rules agreed by the Assembly. The Assembly Travel Allowance is not a mileage reimbursement or a direct repayment of fuel or electricity costs.
“Rather, it is intended to contribute towards the general costs of travel associated with attending Parliament Buildings, including vehicle wear and tear, insurance, motor tax, maintenance and depreciation”.
The News Letter contacted the UUP to ask whether it or its Lagan Valley MLA would like to clarify the statement about ATA in light of the clarification from the Assembly that the sum paid to MLAs is to cover fuel. They declined to comment.
On Friday, the Nolan Show reported that the Assembly deletes the names of those using the chargers and associated data after seven days.
The previous day, both the DUP and UUP issued statements telling any of their MLAs who had used the facility that any “additional benefit” should be reimbursed – but did not name any of their MLAs.
A DUP spokesperson said three of the party’s MLAs have used the electric vehicle charging points. They said while using the facility was within the rules, Gavin Robinson has asked three MLAs to “arrange reimbursement for the additional benefit they received through electricity used”.
The party said no DUP MLAs will avail of the charging facility until it becomes a pay-to-charge station.
UUP boss Jon Burrows said that when it came to his attention last week that MLAs could avail of free EV charging, he tabled written questions to the Assembly Commission “to establish the facts”.
He said the Assembly Commission should immediately introduce charging for MLAs – and none should use it in the meantime.
“Any Ulster Unionist Assembly member who has used the free EV charger at Stormont should now contact the Assembly finance department and take the appropriate steps to ensure any additional benefit is reimbursed”, Mr Burrows said.
No MLAs who availed of the scheme had commented on the matter until after their names were put into the public domain by the BBC.
It reported that DUP MLA Pam Cameron, Alliance MLA David Honeyford and Mr Butler had used the facility, and said the DUP MLA Trevor Clarke brought his wife's electric car to Stormont, but would not say whether he charged it up.