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Cabinet expense claims published Questions loom on Cabinet claims
(about 4 hours later)
Gordon Brown claimed £6,000 after paying his brother for a cleaner at his Westminster flat, it is reported. Members of the Cabinet are facing tough questions after full details of their expenses claims were published by the Daily Telegraph.
It is among details of expenses claims made by Cabinet ministers, published by the Daily Telegraph. They include a claim for £6,500 made by Gordon Brown to pay his brother for a cleaner for his Westminster flat.
The paper also says Jack Straw claimed the full council tax on his second home despite having a 50% discount on it. Justice Secretary Jack Straw received a 50% discount on the council tax on his second home, but claimed the full sum.
No 10 said Mr Brown's claim was within the rules. Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said all claims by cabinet members were made in "good faith". Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said no resignations were likely as all claims were within the rules.
The BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson said the claims were an embarrassment for the Cabinet and Parliament, but were unlikely to force anyone from office. The paper published hitherto confidential information about 13 members of the Cabinet, including chancellor Alastair Darling, the Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and the Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.
They did, however, show how lax the system of allowances had become, he added. Further revelations about other MPs - including those from other parties - are expected to be released over the next few days.
Members are accused of trying to maximise the amount of money they can legitimately claim within the rules, which they set and oversee.
The Telegraph identifies practices including "switching" homes to allow more money to be claimed, claiming the maximum amount allowable and using the rules to minimise council tax bills.
Ordinary people would be "appalled" at the revelations, said a spokesman for the TaxPayers Alliance.
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the claims were an embarrassment for the Cabinet and Parliament.
Although they were unlikely to force anyone from office, they did show how lax the system of allowances had become, he added.
Claimed twiceClaimed twice
The Telegraph reports that Gordon Brown's brother, Andrew, received £6,577 between 2004 and 2006 for cleaning services at the prime minister's private flat. The Telegraph reported that Gordon Brown's brother, Andrew, received £6,577 between 2004 and 2006 for cleaning services at the prime minister's private flat.
No 10 told the paper that the PM shared a cleaner with his brother - an executive at EDF Energy - and "reimbursed him for the share of the cost".No 10 told the paper that the PM shared a cleaner with his brother - an executive at EDF Energy - and "reimbursed him for the share of the cost".
it is disgraceful that a national newspaper should stoop so low as to buy information Sir Stuart Bell MP Expense claims - key details Nick Robinson's view It is disgraceful that a national newspaper should stoop so low as to buy information Sir Stuart Bell MP Expense claims - key details Nick Robinson's view
Downing Street sources said there was formal and longstanding contract for the cleaner stipulating hours of work and payment. Downing Street source 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 £153 bill twice for plumbing work at his constituency home in successive quarters. Gordon Brown also reportedly claimed £153 twice for the same plumbing work at his constituency home.
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. But 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 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. Mr Straw claimed his entire council tax bill for his second home despite already enjoying a substantial discount 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. A spokesman for Mr Straw said all his claims had been made in accordance with Commons rules and when the mistake was spotted by the justice secretary himself, the money was repaid.
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.
'Under-claimed''Under-claimed'
Among other reported revelations is that Communities Secretary Hazel Blears claimed for expenditure on three different properties during the same year, spending £5,000 on furniture in three months. Among other revelations, Ms Blears is said to have claimed for expenditure under the Additional Costs Allowance on three different properties during the same year, spending £5,000 on furniture in three months.
The Telegraph says by switching their designated second home between their London and constituency properties, Ms Blears and a number of other MPs have been able to claim for household goods or other reimbursements for both.
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," said the spokesman."Hazel is honest as the day is long," said the spokesman.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham reportedly bought the freehold on a flat he already owned and claimed back the stamp duty and other moving costs. I don't think there's any reason for resignations, but there is reason to tighten up the system Harriet Harman, deputy leader
Jack Straw is under scrutiny for his council tax claims Culture secretary Andy Burnham reportedly bought the freehold on a flat he already owned and then claimed back the stamp duty and other moving costs.
Mr Burnham said he did not profit from the transaction and had only made "allowable claims". He said he did not profit from the transaction and had only made "allowable claims".
"I reject absolutely any suggestion that I have not used public funds properly since I entered Parliament," he said."I reject absolutely any suggestion that I have not used public funds properly since I entered Parliament," he said.
"Indeed, over the last five years, I have under-claimed on my Additional Costs Allowance by around £40,000.""Indeed, over the last five years, I have under-claimed on my Additional Costs Allowance by around £40,000."
Although MPs say that they have only followed the rules, there is now a growing acceptance that the rules need to be amended.
Ms Harman told the BBC's Newsnight that the system had changed since many of the claims were made and was still to be overhauled further.Ms Harman told the BBC's Newsnight that the system had changed since many of the claims were made and was still to be overhauled further.
"The claims would only have been paid out if the House of Commons authorities accepted that the claims were made within the rules," she said."The claims would only have been paid out if the House of Commons authorities accepted that the claims were made within the rules," she said.
"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.""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."
The Telegraph has not revealed how it came by the information, but it is thought to have full details of every claim submitted by every MP from every party dating back to 2004. The Telegraph has not revealed how it obtained the information, but it says it has full details of every claim submitted by every MP from every party dating back to 2004.
The information was due 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. Jack Straw is under scrutiny for his council tax claims
They were due to be officially published in July following a long-running battle over MP's expenses between campaigners and Common authorities.
But the paper alleges many of the details it uncovered would have been censored by the time the claims were released by the parliamentary authorities.
'Embarrassed''Embarrassed'
The Daily Telegraph's assistant editor Ben Brogan said the disclosures illustrated the "scale of systematic abuse" of parliamentary expenses in recent years. Telegraph assistant editor Ben Brogan said the disclosures illustrated the "scale of systematic abuse" of parliamentary expenses in recent years.
He stressed the information was reliable 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.
Tax payers will be appalled that the rot in Parliament seems to go right to the Cabinet Matthew Elliott, Taxpayers' Alliance
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 also be releasing information about the claims of leading opposition politicians in the coming days. MP Sir Stuart Bell, said it was "disgraceful" that the Telegraph had bought information which would have been published anyway, and that it encouraged "thieves and leakers".
Sir Stuart Bell, who sits on the House of Commons Commission which oversees the terms of employment for all political staff, said: "If this was received by unauthorised means, it is disgraceful that a national newspaper should stoop so low as to buy information which will be in the public domain in July. Tax payers will be appalled that the rot in Parliament seems to go right to the Cabinet Matthew Elliott, Taxpayers' Alliance
"It undermines the very basis of our democracy and is against all the rules of fair play, rewards thieves or leakers of information who may be in breach of contract and does no service to our democracy."
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.
'Dubious claims''Dubious claims'
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. No 10 sources suggested the information published was accurate but insisted the nature and timing of the publication was politically motivated.
MP voted through a series of reforms - including a requirement for MPs to provide receipts for all spending - earlier this month. The leak follows a growing incidence of expense scandals which led MPs to vote through a series of reforms, including a requirement to provide receipts for all spending.
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 also 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.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "There can be no greater proof of the need for urgent and wholesale reform of MPs' expenses than the fact that so many people at the top of government have been making such dubious claims.Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "There can be no greater proof of the need for urgent and wholesale reform of MPs' expenses than the fact that so many people at the top of government have been making such dubious claims.
"Tax payers will be appalled that the rot in Parliament seems to go right to the Cabinet and even Downing Street.""Tax payers will be appalled that the rot in Parliament seems to go right to the Cabinet and even Downing Street."
Do you think of the rules which have allowed these claims to be made? Do you think MPs should be allowed to claim for things like cleaners, replacement boilers and TVs? What do you think MPs should be allowed to put down as expenses? What do you think of the rules which have allowed these claims to be made? Do you think that MPs should be allowed to claim for things like cleaners, replacement boilers and TVs? What should MPs be allowed to put down as expenses?
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