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| Brown defends Smith over film row | Brown defends Smith over film row |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's use of Commons expenses for two adult films watched by her husband should be a "personal matter". | Gordon Brown has said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's use of Commons expenses for two adult films watched by her husband should be a "personal matter". |
| The prime minister said the matter should not "detract" from the "great job" Ms Smith was doing. | The prime minister said the matter should not "detract" from the "great job" Ms Smith was doing. |
| Ms Smith has said she "mistakenly" made the claims when billing the authorities for her second homes costs. | Ms Smith has said she "mistakenly" made the claims when billing the authorities for her second homes costs. |
| Tory leader David Cameron said it was "hugely embarrassing for her" but not a resignation issue on its own. | Tory leader David Cameron said it was "hugely embarrassing for her" but not a resignation issue on its own. |
| Ms Smith did not see the films, which were watched by her husband Richard Timney at the family home in Redditch, Worcestershire, but was said to be "mortified" by the error. | Ms Smith did not see the films, which were watched by her husband Richard Timney at the family home in Redditch, Worcestershire, but was said to be "mortified" by the error. |
| The home secretary said she had claimed for a TV package when billing for a web connection under her second homes allowance and would repay the cash. | The home secretary said she had claimed for a TV package when billing for a web connection under her second homes allowance and would repay the cash. |
| 'Safer neighbourhoods' | 'Safer neighbourhoods' |
| Mr Brown told a Downing Street press conference: "This is very much a personal matter for Jacqui. | Mr Brown told a Downing Street press conference: "This is very much a personal matter for Jacqui. |
| "She has made her apology. Her husband has made it clear that he has apologised. | "She has made her apology. Her husband has made it clear that he has apologised. |
| "I think the best thing is that Jacqui Smith gets on with her work, which is what she wants to do." | "I think the best thing is that Jacqui Smith gets on with her work, which is what she wants to do." |
| I think the best thing is that Jacqui Smith gets on with her work, which is what she wants to do Gordon Brown Q&A: Smith and MPs' expenses | |
| He added: "The home secretary is doing a great job and in no way should this issue be allowed to detract from everything she is doing for the public in making our neighbourhoods safer." | He added: "The home secretary is doing a great job and in no way should this issue be allowed to detract from everything she is doing for the public in making our neighbourhoods safer." |
| But Mr Cameron said there had to be "complete transparency" in the way MPs' expenses were handled. | But Mr Cameron said there had to be "complete transparency" in the way MPs' expenses were handled. |
| He told the BBC he had told his MPs: "If you can't defend what you are doing, don't do it. We've got to get public opinion with us." | He told the BBC he had told his MPs: "If you can't defend what you are doing, don't do it. We've got to get public opinion with us." |
| Ms Smith uses her allowances to employ Mr Timney as her parliamentary aide on a salary of up to £40,000 a year. | Ms Smith uses her allowances to employ Mr Timney as her parliamentary aide on a salary of up to £40,000 a year. |
| She is already being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over her decision to claim at least £116,000 in second-home allowances for her family home in her constituency in Redditch, Worcs, since becoming an MP. | She is already being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over her decision to claim at least £116,000 in second-home allowances for her family home in her constituency in Redditch, Worcs, since becoming an MP. |
| 'Something wrong' | |
| Ms Smith says she did nothing wrong over her second home claims as she had approval to say her main home was her sister's house in South London where she rents a room. | Ms Smith says she did nothing wrong over her second home claims as she had approval to say her main home was her sister's house in South London where she rents a room. |
| Mr Cameron said: "I think she has got some questions to answer about the second home issue. It does seem to me pretty incredible to claim that the home where her family is, that is not her main home." | Mr Cameron said: "I think she has got some questions to answer about the second home issue. It does seem to me pretty incredible to claim that the home where her family is, that is not her main home." |
| "I think this goes to a deeper problem which is the second home allowance for MPs. The prime minister has ordered a review but he has sort of kicked it into the long grass," he added. | "I think this goes to a deeper problem which is the second home allowance for MPs. The prime minister has ordered a review but he has sort of kicked it into the long grass," he added. |
| "The review doesn't start until September, it is not going to report until after the next election. That is hopeless. We have got to get on with it." | "The review doesn't start until September, it is not going to report until after the next election. That is hopeless. We have got to get on with it." |
| Gordon Brown defends Jacqui Smith | |
| He said there was "something wrong with the culture of the system", shown by the fact that the expenses claim which included the adult movies had been approved. | He said there was "something wrong with the culture of the system", shown by the fact that the expenses claim which included the adult movies had been approved. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said MPs should face expenses "spot checks" and complete item-by-item receipts. | |
| He told the BBC: "The system needs to be looked at top to toe... The whole of the Westminster village is in the last chance saloon. | |
| "We have a common interest in sorting this out quickly." | |
| Mr Timney made a public statement on Sunday in which he apologised for embarrassing his wife. | Mr Timney made a public statement on Sunday in which he apologised for embarrassing his wife. |
| MPs can claim for subscription television services but they have to be used wholly, exclusively and necessarily to perform their duties. | MPs can claim for subscription television services but they have to be used wholly, exclusively and necessarily to perform their duties. |
| The Sunday Express reported that two films, which cost £5 each, were viewed on 6 and 8 April 2008 at Ms Smith's constituency home. | The Sunday Express reported that two films, which cost £5 each, were viewed on 6 and 8 April 2008 at Ms Smith's constituency home. |
| The claim was also said to include two viewings of the film Ocean's 13 - at £3.75 each - and an additional £3.50 to watch the film Surf's Up. | The claim was also said to include two viewings of the film Ocean's 13 - at £3.75 each - and an additional £3.50 to watch the film Surf's Up. |
| 'Immediate steps' | |
| Ms Smith said in a statement: "I'm sorry that, in claiming for my internet connection, I mistakenly claimed for a television package alongside it. | Ms Smith said in a statement: "I'm sorry that, in claiming for my internet connection, I mistakenly claimed for a television package alongside it. |
| "As soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I took immediate steps to contact the relevant parliamentary authorities and rectify the situation. | "As soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I took immediate steps to contact the relevant parliamentary authorities and rectify the situation. |
| "All money claimed for the television package will be paid back in full." | "All money claimed for the television package will be paid back in full." |
| Downing Street said on Sunday that Ms Smith was doing a "great" job and would not let the incident distract her from her role as home secretary. | Downing Street said on Sunday that Ms Smith was doing a "great" job and would not let the incident distract her from her role as home secretary. |
| The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life has previously announced a wide-ranging review of MPs' pay and allowances, due to start later this year. | The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life has previously announced a wide-ranging review of MPs' pay and allowances, due to start later this year. |