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Jacqui Smith's marriage 'strong' | Jacqui Smith's marriage 'strong' |
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Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said her marriage was "strong" despite revelations that she claimed expenses for adult films watched by her husband. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said her marriage was "strong" despite revelations that she claimed expenses for adult films watched by her husband. |
She admitted to the Sunday Telegraph that she was "mortified" when the inadvertent claim was made public. | She admitted to the Sunday Telegraph that she was "mortified" when the inadvertent claim was made public. |
But she would not comment on reports that Richard Timney, who works as her assistant, had been exiled to the sofa. | |
Ms Smith has previously apologised for "mistakenly" claiming £10 for the films which Mr Timney watched in April 2008. | Ms Smith has previously apologised for "mistakenly" claiming £10 for the films which Mr Timney watched in April 2008. |
She is also being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over her decision to charge at least £116,000 in second-home allowances for her constituency housee in Redditch, Worcestershire. | She is also being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over her decision to charge at least £116,000 in second-home allowances for her constituency housee in Redditch, Worcestershire. |
'Private life' | 'Private life' |
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 money. | 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 money. |
Mr Timney has also issued an apology for the claim, and said he was sorry for embarrassing his wife. | Mr Timney has also issued an apology for the claim, and said he was sorry for embarrassing his wife. |
Ms Smith told the newspaper: "We've got a strong relationship both personally and professionally - in terms of the work he does in my constituency office. And it's still strong now." | Ms Smith told the newspaper: "We've got a strong relationship both personally and professionally - in terms of the work he does in my constituency office. And it's still strong now." |
It should never have got within a million miles of being an expenses claim Jacqui SmithHome Secretary | It should never have got within a million miles of being an expenses claim Jacqui SmithHome Secretary |
But asked about the sofa reports, she replied: "I think I should be very open about my expenses, but there are bits of my private life that I don't think should be open to public scrutiny." | But asked about the sofa reports, she replied: "I think I should be very open about my expenses, but there are bits of my private life that I don't think should be open to public scrutiny." |
She said that the couple's sons, aged 10 and 13, were "fine" in the wake of the scandal, but admitted she had been angered by the affair. | She said that the couple's sons, aged 10 and 13, were "fine" in the wake of the scandal, but admitted she had been angered by the affair. |
"I was angry and mortified that I had done it, that we had done it," she said. | "I was angry and mortified that I had done it, that we had done it," she said. |
"I thought that that was the wrong thing to do and that's why what we immediately did was apologise and pay the money back. | "I thought that that was the wrong thing to do and that's why what we immediately did was apologise and pay the money back. |
"That was what I was angry about. It should never have got within a million miles of being an expenses claim. That's why I've apologised for it." | "That was what I was angry about. It should never have got within a million miles of being an expenses claim. That's why I've apologised for it." |
In the wake of the row, the Committee on Standards in Public Life has announced a wide-ranging review of MPs' pay and allowances, starting later this year. | In the wake of the row, the Committee on Standards in Public Life has announced a wide-ranging review of MPs' pay and allowances, starting later this year. |
It came after Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote to the committee calling for a full review into "outside interests" and second jobs. | It came after Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote to the committee calling for a full review into "outside interests" and second jobs. |
Meanwhile, parliament's standards commissioner John Lyon is investigating a complaint about Labour minister Tony McNulty's second home expenses. | Meanwhile, parliament's standards commissioner John Lyon is investigating a complaint about Labour minister Tony McNulty's second home expenses. |
The work minister has claimed £60,000 since 2002 for the house in his Harrow constituency - 11 miles from the Commons - where his parents live. He has said he did not break any rules. | The work minister has claimed £60,000 since 2002 for the house in his Harrow constituency - 11 miles from the Commons - where his parents live. He has said he did not break any rules. |