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Questions loom on Cabinet claims Cabinet expenses under scrutiny
(about 4 hours later)
Members of the Cabinet are facing tough questions after full details of their expenses claims were published by the Daily Telegraph.Members of the Cabinet are facing tough questions after full details of their expenses claims were 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.They include a claim for £6,500 made by Gordon Brown to pay his brother for a cleaner for his Westminster flat.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw received a 50% discount on the council tax on his second home, but claimed the full sum.Justice Secretary Jack Straw received a 50% discount on the council tax on his second home, but claimed the full sum.
Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said no resignations were likely as all claims were within the rules.Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said no resignations were likely as all claims were within the rules.
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. Full details of all MPs' expenses dating back four years, running to 2.4 million receipts, were due to be published in the middle of July after the Commons authorities lost a Freedom of Information battle.
Further revelations about other MPs - including those from other parties - are expected to be released over the next few days. But the Telegraph claims potential abuses would have remained secret because MPs have been allowed to edit out addresses and other information.
Members are accused of trying to maximise the amount of money they can legitimately claim within the rules, which they set and oversee. We do respect public opinion and we do respect the need for change Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm">Expense claims - key details class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Nick Robinson's view
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. The newspaper has obtained a copy of all the uncensored receipts - and has published details of 13 Cabinet ministers, including chancellor Alastair Darling, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.
Ordinary people would be "appalled" at the revelations, said a spokesman for the TaxPayers Alliance. It plans to publish further revelations about MPs from other parties as well as Labour over the next few days and these are rumoured to include embarrassing and even career-ending revelations.
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the claims were an embarrassment for the Cabinet and Parliament. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said it was unlikely anyone in the Cabinet would be forced from office over the initial revelations but they would be facing some awkward questions.
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 reported 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 reports 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm">Expense claims - key details class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Nick Robinson's view A Downing Street source said there was a 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.
Gordon Brown also reportedly claimed £153 twice for the same plumbing work at his constituency home.Gordon Brown also reportedly claimed £153 twice for the same plumbing work at his constituency home.
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.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.
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.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 and when the mistake was spotted by the justice secretary himself, the money was repaid.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.
'Under-claimed'
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.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.
I don't think there's any reason for resignations, but there is reason to tighten up the system Harriet Harman, deputy leader
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.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.
I don't think there's any reason for resignations, but there is reason to tighten up the system Harriet Harman, deputy leader Culture Secretary Andy Burnham was in correspondence with the fees office for eight months over an expenses claim for £16,500 to buy and renovate a new London flat.
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. Officials finally agreed to pay the cash after rejecting the claim three times.
He said he did not profit from the transaction and had only made "allowable claims". This followed a series of letters from Mr Burnham asking for his expenses to be paid urgently.
"I reject absolutely any suggestion that I have not used public funds properly since I entered Parliament," he said. 'Switching'
"Indeed, over the last five years, I have under-claimed on my Additional Costs Allowance by around £40,000." Mr Burnham says that over the past five years he has under-claimed on the Additional Costs Allowance by about £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. The Telegraph accuses MPs of trying to maximise the amount of money they can legitimately claim within the rules, which they set and oversee.
HAVE YOUR SAYHaving a clean house is not requisite to being an MP, so why are we paying for it?Alex, Pontyclun Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYHaving a clean house is not requisite to being an MP, so why are we paying for it?Alex, Pontyclun Send us your comments
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. It 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.
"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. Commons leader Harriet Harman, who has been defending the government in media interviews, said the expenses system has 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 told the BBC's Newsnight.
"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 obtained the information, but it says it has full details of every claim submitted by every MP from every party dating back to 2004.
Jack Straw is under scrutiny for his council tax claimsJack 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. Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell, who sits on the House of Commons Commission, said the expenses claims were "not unusual" or "out of order".
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. He added: "We do respect public opinion and we do respect the need for change - and I think that change is coming, I hope it will come quicker and I hope the public will get the respect for MPs back which we do actually deserve at the end of the day."
'Embarrassed' He also accused the Telegraph of "chequebook journalism".
Telegraph assistant editor Ben Brogan said the disclosures illustrated the "scale of systematic abuse" of parliamentary expenses in recent years. The Telegraph has not confirmed whether it paid for the information.
He stressed the information was reliable and it was in the public interest that it should be published.
Mr Brogan would not say whether the newspaper paid for the information.
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".
Tax payers will be appalled that the rot in Parliament seems to go right to the Cabinet Matthew Elliott, Taxpayers' Alliance
'Dubious claims'
No 10 sources suggested the information published was accurate but insisted the nature and timing of the publication was politically motivated.No 10 sources suggested the information published was accurate but insisted the nature and timing of the publication was politically motivated.
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. MPs recently voted through reforms of the expenses system amid mounting public anger about alleged abuses and will now have to provide receipts for all spending.
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. But they have still to reach a cross-party agreement on reforming the controversial second homes allowance. The Committee on Standards in Public Life is also conducting a review of pay and expenses after concerns public trust had fallen 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.
"Tax payers will be appalled that the rot in Parliament seems to go right to the Cabinet and even Downing Street."
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?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?
Please send us your comments using the form below.Please send us your comments using the form below.
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