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Cabinet expenses to be published Cabinet expenses to be published
(10 minutes later)
Gordon Brown paid his brother about £6,000 for cleaning services for his Westminster flat, it has been reported. Gordon Brown claimed back £6,000 after paying his brother for cleaning at his Westminster flat, it has been reported.
It is among details of expenses claims made by Cabinet ministers which are to be published by the Daily Telegraph.It is among details of expenses claims made by Cabinet ministers which are to be published by the Daily Telegraph.
The paper says Jack Straw used his expenses to claim back the entire council tax on his second home despite already having a 50% discount on it. No 10 said Mr Brown reimbursed his brother for the share of the cost and did not profit at all from it.
The paper also says Jack Straw used his expenses to claim back the entire council tax on his second home despite already having a 50% discount on it.
Mr Straw said all his claims were within the rules and that he spotted errors himself and repaid the money.Mr Straw said all his claims were within the rules and that he spotted errors himself and repaid the money.
The newspaper has obtained details of receipts for claims made by the prime minister, Mr Straw, Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and other senior Labour party figures.The newspaper has obtained details of receipts for claims made by the prime minister, Mr Straw, Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and other senior Labour party figures.
The BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson said the claims were an embarrassment for the Cabinet and Parliament and showed how lax the system of allowances had become.
Cabinet detailsCabinet details
The details of all MP's expense claims since 2004 are to be published in July under a Freedom of Information request, the result of a long-running battle over MP's expenses.The details of all MP's expense claims since 2004 are to be published in July under a Freedom of Information request, the result of a long-running battle over MP's expenses.
It is reporting that Gordon Brown's brother, Andrew, received £6,577 over 26 months for cleaning services. It is reporting that Gordon Brown's brother, Andrew, received £6,577 over 26 months for cleaning services at the prime minister's private flat in Westminster.
No 10 told the newspaper that the PM shared a cleaner with his brother and "reimbursed him [his brother] for the share of the cost".No 10 told the newspaper that the PM shared a cleaner with his brother and "reimbursed him [his brother] for the share of the cost".
The paper also says Gordon Brown claimed for the same plumbing work twice at his constituency home in successive quarters.The paper also says Gordon Brown claimed for the same plumbing work twice at his constituency home in successive quarters.
However, No 10 said the Parliamentary Fees Office accepted this was done inadvertently and had written to Mr Brown to apologise for not spotting the mistake.However, No 10 said the Parliamentary Fees Office accepted this was done inadvertently and had written to Mr Brown to apologise for not spotting the mistake.
It will reveal that Mr Straw claimed his entire council tax bill for his second home despite already enjoying a substantial discount on the bill, worth a reported £1,500 a year.It will reveal that Mr Straw claimed his entire council tax bill for his second home despite already enjoying a substantial discount on the bill, worth a reported £1,500 a year.
A spokesman for Mr Straw said all his claims had been made in accordance with Commons rules. While there were errors in the council tax claim, the mistakes were spotted by Mr Straw himself and the money has been repaid.A spokesman for Mr Straw said all his claims had been made in accordance with Commons rules. While there were errors in the council tax claim, the mistakes were spotted by Mr Straw himself and the money has been repaid.
Among other reported revelations is that Ms Blears claimed for expenditure on three different properties during the period including a hotel where she stayed after selling a Manchester home.Among other reported revelations is that Ms Blears claimed for expenditure on three different properties during the period including a hotel where she stayed after selling a Manchester home.
A spokesman for Ms Blears said she had done nothing wrong and the furnishings she had bought were "reasonable".A spokesman for Ms Blears said she had done nothing wrong and the furnishings she had bought were "reasonable".
"Hazel is honest as the day is long," he said."Hazel is honest as the day is long," he said.
'Systematic abuse''Systematic abuse'
The Daily Telegraph's assistant editor Ben Brogan said the disclosures showed the "scale of systematic abuse" of parliamentary expenses in recent years.The Daily Telegraph's assistant editor Ben Brogan said the disclosures showed the "scale of systematic abuse" of parliamentary expenses in recent years.
The information was reliable, he stressed and it was in the public interest that it should be published.The information was reliable, he stressed and it was in the public interest that it should be published.
Some ministers would be "embarrassed" by the facts, he said, but it was up to the public to decide whether the practices being highlighted amount to fraud.Some ministers would be "embarrassed" by the facts, he said, but it was up to the public to decide whether the practices being highlighted amount to fraud.
Mr Brogan would not say whether the newspaper paid for the information.Mr Brogan would not say whether the newspaper paid for the information.
But he stressed the material in his possession was not limited to the Cabinet and the newspaper would be releasing information about the claims of leading opposition politicians in the coming days.But he stressed the material in his possession was not limited to the Cabinet and the newspaper would be releasing information about the claims of leading opposition politicians in the coming days.
No 10 sources have suggested the information published on Friday is accurate but have insisted the nature and timing of the publication was politically motivated.No 10 sources have suggested the information published on Friday is accurate but have insisted the nature and timing of the publication was politically motivated.
A series of recent scandals over MPs expenses, centred around the so-called second homes allowance, have prompted widespread calls for reform of the allowances system.A series of recent scandals over MPs expenses, centred around the so-called second homes allowance, have prompted widespread calls for reform of the allowances system.
MP voted through a series of reforms - including a requirement for MPs to provide receipts for all spending - earlier this month.MP voted through a series of reforms - including a requirement for MPs to provide receipts for all spending - earlier this month.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life is conducting a review of MP's pay and expenses after MPs expressed concern that public confidence in politicians and Parliament has sunk to an all-time low.The Committee on Standards in Public Life is conducting a review of MP's pay and expenses after MPs expressed concern that public confidence in politicians and Parliament has sunk to an all-time low.