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Smith asked to explain expenses Smith asked to explain expenses
(20 minutes later)
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said she will "answer any questions" Parliament's sleaze watchdog has about £116,000 in "second home" expenses.Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said she will "answer any questions" Parliament's sleaze watchdog has about £116,000 in "second home" expenses.
Ms Smith named her sister's London home as her main residence and her family home in Redditch as her "second home".Ms Smith named her sister's London home as her main residence and her family home in Redditch as her "second home".
She insists she has done nothing wrong and that she followed the rules.She insists she has done nothing wrong and that she followed the rules.
But Standards Commissioner John Lyon has asked her to explain claims by her London neighbours she spends as little as two nights a week at that address.But Standards Commissioner John Lyon has asked her to explain claims by her London neighbours she spends as little as two nights a week at that address.
Mr Lyon has previously turned down two requests to investigate Ms Smith over her decision to designate her sister's house - where she stays when she is in London - as her main home.Mr Lyon has previously turned down two requests to investigate Ms Smith over her decision to designate her sister's house - where she stays when she is in London - as her main home.
The decision has enabled her to claim at least £116,000 in second home allowances on her constituency home in Redditch, Worcestershire, since becoming an MP.The decision has enabled her to claim at least £116,000 in second home allowances on her constituency home in Redditch, Worcestershire, since becoming an MP.
'Neighbours' complaint''Neighbours' complaint'
A spokesman for Mr Lyon said: "He has accepted a complaint against Jacqui Smith and is following the procedure laid down for him."A spokesman for Mr Lyon said: "He has accepted a complaint against Jacqui Smith and is following the procedure laid down for him."
I think that what we need to know is what is her main home David Cameron, Conservative leader
Ms Smith told BBC News she would "respond to any questions the independent commissioner asks me".Ms Smith told BBC News she would "respond to any questions the independent commissioner asks me".
But she added: "I followed the advice I was given and I have followed the rules."But she added: "I followed the advice I was given and I have followed the rules."
The latest complaint comes from Ms Smith's neighbours in London, Dominic and Jessica Taplin, the Home Office has confirmed.The latest complaint comes from Ms Smith's neighbours in London, Dominic and Jessica Taplin, the Home Office has confirmed.
The couple told The Mail on Sunday that Ms Smith was often at her London address for just two days a week and rarely spent Sunday night there.The couple told The Mail on Sunday that Ms Smith was often at her London address for just two days a week and rarely spent Sunday night there.
They told the newspaper it was easy to tell when Ms Smith was at home as her security staff were on duty in the street.They told the newspaper it was easy to tell when Ms Smith was at home as her security staff were on duty in the street.
Mrs Taplin said: "When I read that she says she spends most of the week here, I thought, 'That is a fabrication'."Mrs Taplin said: "When I read that she says she spends most of the week here, I thought, 'That is a fabrication'."
'Public interest''Public interest'
After speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Mr and Mrs Taplin are understood to have written to the Commons fees office, which looks after MPs' expenses.After speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Mr and Mrs Taplin are understood to have written to the Commons fees office, which looks after MPs' expenses.
The couple initially contacted Conservative leader David Cameron by e-mail to bring their concerns to his attention, Tory sources have confirmed.The couple initially contacted Conservative leader David Cameron by e-mail to bring their concerns to his attention, Tory sources have confirmed.
Mr Cameron's office told the Taplins it was not a matter for the Tories but suggested they might wish to contact a newspaper as this would be "in the public interest".Mr Cameron's office told the Taplins it was not a matter for the Tories but suggested they might wish to contact a newspaper as this would be "in the public interest".
The BBC has learned that another neighbour who lives near Ms Smith's London residence says she is frequently there for much of the working week and on Sunday evenings.The BBC has learned that another neighbour who lives near Ms Smith's London residence says she is frequently there for much of the working week and on Sunday evenings.
Last week, Ms Smith's spokesman said she arrived at her sister's house on "Sunday or Monday" and usually left on Thursday.Last week, Ms Smith's spokesman said she arrived at her sister's house on "Sunday or Monday" and usually left on Thursday.
Mr Lyon is now reported to have asked Ms Smith to set out exactly how much time she spends at the address in south-east London.Mr Lyon is now reported to have asked Ms Smith to set out exactly how much time she spends at the address in south-east London.
Ms Smith has consistently denied any wrongdoing, insisting that she has written approval from the Commons fees office for her arrangements.Ms Smith has consistently denied any wrongdoing, insisting that she has written approval from the Commons fees office for her arrangements.
Sources indicate the home secretary will strongly contest the claims she did not spend most of her time at her London home and that she will be replying in detail to the request from the Commissioner for a response to the complaint.Sources indicate the home secretary will strongly contest the claims she did not spend most of her time at her London home and that she will be replying in detail to the request from the Commissioner for a response to the complaint.
Mr Cameron told BBC 5 Live: "I think that what we need to know is what is her main home."Mr Cameron told BBC 5 Live: "I think that what we need to know is what is her main home."
He added that it was necessary to establish whether Ms Smith's arrangement was "reasonable", saying: "I think the home secretary has some questions to be asked on that front."He added that it was necessary to establish whether Ms Smith's arrangement was "reasonable", saying: "I think the home secretary has some questions to be asked on that front."
Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, who campaigns for greater parliamentary accountability, welcomed Mr Lyon's decision to look into Ms Smith's allowances.Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, who campaigns for greater parliamentary accountability, welcomed Mr Lyon's decision to look into Ms Smith's allowances.
"There is clearly an opportunity for MPs to designate their first and second homes in order to maximise financial advantage, which cannot be right," he said."There is clearly an opportunity for MPs to designate their first and second homes in order to maximise financial advantage, which cannot be right," he said.
"We need to get to a stage where the publication of MPs' expenses is seen as non-remarkable, and there is no longer cause for outrage whenever they are published.""We need to get to a stage where the publication of MPs' expenses is seen as non-remarkable, and there is no longer cause for outrage whenever they are published."