MPs defer Spelman nanny decision

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MPs have deferred a decision on a report into allegations that Caroline Spelman acted improperly by using public money to pay her nanny.

The Standards and Privileges Committee discussed the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's report into the Tory MP's conduct for two hours.

The body, which has the power to punish MPs who break the rules, is expected to discuss the matter again next Tuesday.

The shadow communities secretary has denied any wrongdoing.

Standards committee chairman, Tory MP Sir George Young, wants members to reach an agreement on what sanctions, if any, to impose on Ms Spelman. It is expected to publish a report on the matter on Wednesday.

'Within the rules'

Mrs Spelman referred allegations that she used parliamentary expenses to pay her nanny to the standards watchdog last year in a move to clear her name.

The Meriden MP said she was right to use her parliamentary allowance to pay Tina Haynes as she did secretarial work.

MPs' allowances are only for activities directly related to their jobs.

Mrs Spelman, who was until recently party chairman, is one of the Conservatives' most senior female MPs.

Ms Haynes - who was Mrs Spelman's nanny from 1997 to 2002 - also worked as her constituency secretary for six hours a day between 1997 and 1998.

Mrs Spelman said Ms Haynes did administrative work at her home, used as her constituency office, as well as providing childcare services outside school hours.

She insisted that she was rewarded separately for her duties as a nanny through free board and lodging.

But a BBC investigation found that Ms Haynes' secretarial duties only comprised posting letters, taking the occasional phone call and passing on messages "once or twice a week".

The arrangement ended when the Conservative Chief Whip told Mrs Spelman it could be "open to misinterpretation", and she appointed a separate constituency secretary.

Mrs Spelman has always argued she acted "entirely within the rules".

The MP's watchdog, John Lyon, began his seven-month probe after Mrs Spelman requested an investigation to clear her name.

Mr Lyon's office said the decision to investigate was "exceptional" given it had not received a formal complaint about her conduct and the events took place more than seven years before.

'Unusual'

For part of the period in question, it was claimed that Ms Haynes was working at Mrs Spelman's home in Kent - 140 miles from her West Midlands constituency.

Critics said it was "rather unusual" to employ a secretary such a distance from an MP's constituency.

Mrs Spelman said she had to use her home as a constituency office because of administrative problems after the sudden death of her predecessor as MP for Meriden.

The allegations arose at a time of controversy about MPs' expenses triggered by the furore over Conservative MP Derek Conway's use of public money.

Mr Conway was reprimanded for the amount he paid his son to work as a Parliamentary researcher and had the Tory whip withdrawn.