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Cabinet expenses are published Cabinet expense claims published
(21 minutes later)
Gordon Brown claimed £6,000 after paying his brother for a cleaner at his Westminster flat, it is reported.Gordon Brown claimed £6,000 after paying his brother for a cleaner at his Westminster flat, it is reported.
It is among details of expenses claims made by Cabinet ministers, published by the Daily Telegraph.It is among details of expenses claims made by Cabinet ministers, published by the Daily Telegraph.
The paper also says Jack Straw claimed the full council tax on his second home despite having a 50% discount on it.The paper also says Jack Straw claimed the full council tax on his second home despite having a 50% discount on it.
No 10 said Mr Brown was reimbursing his brother for his share of the cleaner. Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said claims were made in "good faith".No 10 said Mr Brown was reimbursing his brother for his share of the cleaner. Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said claims were made in "good faith".
She told the BBC's Newsnight: "The claims would only have been paid out if the House of Commons authorities accepted that the claims were made within the rules.
Hazel is honest as the day is long Hazel Blears' spokesman
"I think if people have made claims in good faith under a system that existed at the time then I don't think there's any reason for resignations, but there is reason to tighten up the system."
Mr Straw said all his claims were within the rules but that he had spotted some errors himself and repaid the money.Mr Straw said all his claims were within the rules but that he had spotted some 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.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.
The Telegraph has not revealed how it came by its information, but it is thought to have full details of every claim submitted by every MP from every party dating back to 2004.
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 information is to be officially published in July under a Freedom of Information request, following a long-running battle over MP's expenses between campaigners and Common authorities
It is reporting that Gordon Brown's brother, Andrew, received £6,577 between 2004 and 2006 for cleaning services at the prime minister's private flat in Westminster. The paper reports that Gordon Brown's brother, Andrew, received £6,577 between 2004 and 2006 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 - an executive at EDF Energy - and "reimbursed him [his brother] for the share of the cost". No 10 told the Telegraph that the PM shared a cleaner with his brother - an executive at EDF Energy - and "reimbursed him for the share of the cost".
Downing Street sources said there was formal and longstanding contract for the cleaner stipulating hours of work and payment.Downing Street sources said there was formal and longstanding contract for the cleaner stipulating hours of work and payment.
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.
Hazel is honest as the day is long Spokesman for Hazel Blears
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 from his local authority, worth a reported £1,500 a year. It is also revealed that Mr Straw claimed his entire council tax bill for his second home despite already enjoying a substantial discount on the bill from his local authority, 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.
He said while there had been errors in the council tax claim, the mistakes were spotted by Mr Straw himself and the money was repaid.
Jack Straw is under scrutiny for his council tax claims
Among other reported revelations is that Ms Blears claimed for expenditure on three different properties during the same year, spending £5,000 on furniture in three months.Among other reported revelations is that Ms Blears claimed for expenditure on three different properties during the same year, spending £5,000 on furniture in three months.
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," said the spokesman
'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 illustrated 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. He stressed the information was reliable 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 also 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.