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| Ministers defend expenses claims | Ministers defend expenses claims |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Ministers have defended their expenses claims saying all were made within the rules, as police are asked to probe how the details were leaked to a newspaper. | Ministers have defended their expenses claims saying all were made within the rules, as police are asked to probe how the details were leaked to a newspaper. |
| Downing Street says there was "nothing wrong" with Gordon Brown's £6,500 claim to pay his brother for a cleaner. | Downing Street says there was "nothing wrong" with Gordon Brown's £6,500 claim to pay his brother for a cleaner. |
| Lord Mandelson, who claimed £2,850 for his home, before quitting as an MP and selling it for a large profit, said the claims were for essential repairs. | Lord Mandelson, who claimed £2,850 for his home, before quitting as an MP and selling it for a large profit, said the claims were for essential repairs. |
| The Telegraph published the details and says other parties' claims will follow. | The Telegraph published the details and says other parties' claims will follow. |
| But some ministers have expressed anger that details had been leaked, before they were due to be published in July, and have claimed that it was a politically motivated story by a Conservative-supporting newspaper. | But some ministers have expressed anger that details had been leaked, before they were due to be published in July, and have claimed that it was a politically motivated story by a Conservative-supporting newspaper. |
| System 'doesn't work' | System 'doesn't work' |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said it did not appear any one allegation would be enough for a minister to lose their jobs - but there was an impression that, at best, MPs were casual about what was claimed and at worst, were deliberately trying to get every penny from the system. | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said it did not appear any one allegation would be enough for a minister to lose their jobs - but there was an impression that, at best, MPs were casual about what was claimed and at worst, were deliberately trying to get every penny from the system. |
| The Commons authorities have made a complaint to the Metropolitan Police, who have confirmed they are considering a request to launch an investigation into the leak. | The Commons authorities have made a complaint to the Metropolitan Police, who have confirmed they are considering a request to launch an investigation into the leak. |
| EXPENSES REACTION Gordon Brown Hazel Blears Jack Straw Harriet Harman Lord Mandelson David Cameron Nick Clegg Cabinet expenses under scrutiny | EXPENSES REACTION Gordon Brown Hazel Blears Jack Straw Harriet Harman Lord Mandelson David Cameron Nick Clegg Cabinet expenses under scrutiny |
| And the BBC understands House of Commons Commission, a supervisory body chaired by Speaker Michael Martin, will meet on Monday to decide whether to release the details of all MPs' claims early. | And the BBC understands House of Commons Commission, a supervisory body chaired by Speaker Michael Martin, will meet on Monday to decide whether to release the details of all MPs' claims early. |
| Gordon Brown, who is in Bradford for a memorial ceremony, has said a "better system" for expenses is needed - but one that recognises that MPs must live in two places, Westminster and their constituency. | Gordon Brown, who is in Bradford for a memorial ceremony, has said a "better system" for expenses is needed - but one that recognises that MPs must live in two places, Westminster and their constituency. |
| "The system doesn't work," he told the BBC. "I've said it doesn't work, it's got to be changed. We voted for change and that change has got to come quickly." | "The system doesn't work," he told the BBC. "I've said it doesn't work, it's got to be changed. We voted for change and that change has got to come quickly." |
| His spokesman said any suggestion there was something wrong in the arrangement whereby Mr Brown paid his brother for a cleaner they both shared was "wholly unjustified". | His spokesman said any suggestion there was something wrong in the arrangement whereby Mr Brown paid his brother for a cleaner they both shared was "wholly unjustified". |
| There have also been calls for all receipts to be published immediately from some Labour figures including Sir Stuart Bell - who sits on the House of Commons supervisory body. | There have also been calls for all receipts to be published immediately from some Labour figures including Sir Stuart Bell - who sits on the House of Commons supervisory body. |
| The Telegraph revelations include Communities Secretary Hazel Blears claiming three different properties within a year were her "second home" - the first her Salford constituency, the second two in London. MPs can claim up to £24,000 a year towards the costs of their second home. | The Telegraph revelations include Communities Secretary Hazel Blears claiming three different properties within a year were her "second home" - the first her Salford constituency, the second two in London. MPs can claim up to £24,000 a year towards the costs of their second home. |
| 'In good faith' | 'In good faith' |
| Ms Blears said the claims were "entirely in accordance with the rules" adding: "I have only ever had one small, one-bedroom flat at any time in London." But she did not answer questions about whether the claims were justified. | Ms Blears said the claims were "entirely in accordance with the rules" adding: "I have only ever had one small, one-bedroom flat at any time in London." But she did not answer questions about whether the claims were justified. |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he had repaid £1,500 which he claimed to cover the full rate of council tax on his constituency home - when he was getting a 50% discount. He told the BBC he had acted "in complete good faith and within the rules" but regretted the "error" on council tax. | Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he had repaid £1,500 which he claimed to cover the full rate of council tax on his constituency home - when he was getting a 50% discount. He told the BBC he had acted "in complete good faith and within the rules" but regretted the "error" on council tax. |
| What I don't want to see is for people to feel that all MPs are corrupt and the system is rotten because I don't believe that to be the case Harriet Harman Expense claims - key details Nick Robinson's view What MPs can claim on expenses Q&A: MPs' expenses | What I don't want to see is for people to feel that all MPs are corrupt and the system is rotten because I don't believe that to be the case Harriet Harman Expense claims - key details Nick Robinson's view What MPs can claim on expenses Q&A: MPs' expenses |
| But asked how his colleague - Environment Secretary Hilary Benn - apparently managed to claim only £140 for the whole year under the allowance, Mr Straw added: "I will talk to Hilary about how he manages it." | But asked how his colleague - Environment Secretary Hilary Benn - apparently managed to claim only £140 for the whole year under the allowance, Mr Straw added: "I will talk to Hilary about how he manages it." |
| Lord Mandelson said the Daily Telegraph report created "the perception of wrongdoing" about his claims for his constituency home - lodged after he said he would be standing down as an MP. | Lord Mandelson said the Daily Telegraph report created "the perception of wrongdoing" about his claims for his constituency home - lodged after he said he would be standing down as an MP. |
| He reportedly went on to sell the property for a £136,000 profit but denied he had claimed to improve the house - he said the claims were to repair a roof which was letting in water. | He reportedly went on to sell the property for a £136,000 profit but denied he had claimed to improve the house - he said the claims were to repair a roof which was letting in water. |
| The Telegraph has not confirmed if it paid for the details but says it was in the public interest to publish them and they will be publishing details of other parties' claims. | The Telegraph has not confirmed if it paid for the details but says it was in the public interest to publish them and they will be publishing details of other parties' claims. |
| 'Systemic abuse' | 'Systemic abuse' |
| The newspaper also says the Commons authorities had planned to blank out the addresses of MPs, potentially concealing the way some had regularly changed homes in order to maximise their income. | The newspaper also says the Commons authorities had planned to blank out the addresses of MPs, potentially concealing the way some had regularly changed homes in order to maximise their income. |
| Its chief political commentator Benedict Brogan said: "For the first time after years of trying to get this information, Telegraph readers and the general public will have an idea of the systemic abuse of parliamentary allowances that has been going on for years and has grown up out of a system that clearly is no longer suitable for what it's designed to do." | Its chief political commentator Benedict Brogan said: "For the first time after years of trying to get this information, Telegraph readers and the general public will have an idea of the systemic abuse of parliamentary allowances that has been going on for years and has grown up out of a system that clearly is no longer suitable for what it's designed to do." |
| 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 comments | 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 comments |
| But Sir Stuart Bell said he believed the leak had breached the Data Protection Act and may refer it to the information commissioner. | But Sir Stuart Bell said he believed the leak had breached the Data Protection Act and may refer it to the information commissioner. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told BBC News the issue "affects all politicians of all parties and no one comes out of this smelling of roses". | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told BBC News the issue "affects all politicians of all parties and no one comes out of this smelling of roses". |
| Repeating his call to stop MPs buying properties using public money, he said: "I think people will just simply despair that all politicians look either ridiculous at best or corrupt at worst." | Repeating his call to stop MPs buying properties using public money, he said: "I think people will just simply despair that all politicians look either ridiculous at best or corrupt at worst." |
| Explain claims | Explain claims |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said: "I completely understand how angry the public are about this and we desperately need change. | Conservative leader David Cameron said: "I completely understand how angry the public are about this and we desperately need change. |
| "I have argued for a long time that we've got to cut the cost of the expenses regime ... we've got to radically reduce the number of things that MPs can claim for and we've got to sort out the system." | "I have argued for a long time that we've got to cut the cost of the expenses regime ... we've got to radically reduce the number of things that MPs can claim for and we've got to sort out the system." |
| David Cameron says people are 'rightly angry' about MPs expenses | David Cameron says people are 'rightly angry' about MPs expenses |
| He said every MP had to explain their claims themselves. "That's what I will do when mine are published and I look forward to that happening," he added. | He said every MP had to explain their claims themselves. "That's what I will do when mine are published and I look forward to that happening," he added. |
| More than 2 million receipts to back up claims made by all MPs since 2004 are being digitised and edited ahead of their publication in July. | More than 2 million receipts to back up claims made by all MPs since 2004 are being digitised and edited ahead of their publication in July. |
| The Commons authorities fought and lost a High Court battle last year to prevent their publication under the Freedom of Information Act. | The Commons authorities fought and lost a High Court battle last year to prevent their publication under the Freedom of Information Act. |
| Last week MPs voted through some changes to the second homes allowances including making all claims require a receipt - not just those over £25 as previously - and stopping MPs representing greater London constituencies from claiming it. | Last week MPs voted through some changes to the second homes allowances including making all claims require a receipt - not just those over £25 as previously - and stopping MPs representing greater London constituencies from claiming it. |
| But more widespread reform has been left to an independent body - Sir Christopher Kelly's committee on standards in public life - which is carrying out a review and is expected to report back by the end of the year. | But more widespread reform has been left to an independent body - Sir Christopher Kelly's committee on standards in public life - which is carrying out a review and is expected to report back by the end of the year. |
| A ROUND-UP OF OPINION ON THE EXPENSES LEAK | A ROUND-UP OF OPINION ON THE EXPENSES LEAK |
| Newspapers and blogs are not short of comment about, analysis of and reaction to the MPs' expenses figures published in today's Telegraph . Most despair at some of the receipts submitted by the Cabinet before anticipating what's coming next. | Newspapers and blogs are not short of comment about, analysis of and reaction to the MPs' expenses figures published in today's Telegraph . Most despair at some of the receipts submitted by the Cabinet before anticipating what's coming next. |
| In a leader column, the Telegraph deftly swipes away any objections to its reporting (such as those expressed by Sir Stuart Bell ), commenting that "it is right that the public should know what has been going on": | In a leader column, the Telegraph deftly swipes away any objections to its reporting (such as those expressed by Sir Stuart Bell ), commenting that "it is right that the public should know what has been going on": |
| But in order for the Augean stables to be cleansed, it is first necessary to show how filthy they have become. Today, The Daily Telegraph does just that. | But in order for the Augean stables to be cleansed, it is first necessary to show how filthy they have become. Today, The Daily Telegraph does just that. |
| At Tory Diary, a similar metaphor. Tim Montgomerie braces himself for the forthcoming details when we find out about the other parties' expenses: | At Tory Diary, a similar metaphor. Tim Montgomerie braces himself for the forthcoming details when we find out about the other parties' expenses: |
| The other parties are not innocent, however. The Telegraph says MPs from all parties are implicated by their expenses exclusive. We all paid £1,775 for Farrow and Ball paint for the renovation of a Tory shadow minister's country home, for example. One wealthy Tory MP charged £10 for a bag of manure. [Mild scatological wordplay deleted] | The other parties are not innocent, however. The Telegraph says MPs from all parties are implicated by their expenses exclusive. We all paid £1,775 for Farrow and Ball paint for the renovation of a Tory shadow minister's country home, for example. One wealthy Tory MP charged £10 for a bag of manure. [Mild scatological wordplay deleted] |
| At the Spectator's Coffee House, James Forsyth is more sanguine about the likely effect on the Conservatives , on the basis that there are "only three members of the shadow Cabinet who have anything approaching national name recognition: Cameron, Hague and Osborne. Labour, by virtue of being in government for more than a decade, has far more politicians who the country [is] aware of": | |
| As long as the Tories the country knows haven't made any outrageous claims then this story will hurt Labour more than it does the Tories. | As long as the Tories the country knows haven't made any outrageous claims then this story will hurt Labour more than it does the Tories. |
| Also at Coffee House, Fraser Nelson recalls Plato's insistence that politicians should live in communal accommodation . Over at the Sky blog run by Adam Boulton and his team, Joey Jones reserves judgment for the moment but reflects on another hebdomada horribila for the PM: | Also at Coffee House, Fraser Nelson recalls Plato's insistence that politicians should live in communal accommodation . Over at the Sky blog run by Adam Boulton and his team, Joey Jones reserves judgment for the moment but reflects on another hebdomada horribila for the PM: |
| Led a merry dance by his fragrant nemesis Joanna Lumley, now the saviour of the world economy stoops to publishing his cleaner's contract. Airing his clean washing in public. Too much information, surely? | Led a merry dance by his fragrant nemesis Joanna Lumley, now the saviour of the world economy stoops to publishing his cleaner's contract. Airing his clean washing in public. Too much information, surely? |
| The BBC's Martin Rosenbaum looks at the story from a Freedom Of Information angle at his FOI blog, Open Secrets: | The BBC's Martin Rosenbaum looks at the story from a Freedom Of Information angle at his FOI blog, Open Secrets: |
| [O]ne of the most interesting pieces in the Telegraph today argues that without [MPs'] addresses, the newspaper would not have been able to shed light on some of the questionable practices it reveals. So some of today's revelations may be as much as about leaking, or "chequebook journalism", as about freedom of information. | [O]ne of the most interesting pieces in the Telegraph today argues that without [MPs'] addresses, the newspaper would not have been able to shed light on some of the questionable practices it reveals. So some of today's revelations may be as much as about leaking, or "chequebook journalism", as about freedom of information. |
| At the one-stop shop for those who like a punt on matters ministerial, Political Betting, Mike Smithson cheers "an amazing period for political news" and asks the big question - big, that is, if you're thinking of gambling on the identity of the next Labour leader: | At the one-stop shop for those who like a punt on matters ministerial, Political Betting, Mike Smithson cheers "an amazing period for political news" and asks the big question - big, that is, if you're thinking of gambling on the identity of the next Labour leader: |
| So what are the betting implications of all of this? Is it good news for Alan Johnson backers? | So what are the betting implications of all of this? Is it good news for Alan Johnson backers? |
| Finally, in a pithy post headed A Certain Amusement , economics blogger Tim Worstall notes: | Finally, in a pithy post headed A Certain Amusement , economics blogger Tim Worstall notes: |
| Leave aside the reality of all this expenses stuff for a moment. Just savour the frothing outrage over expenses coming from journalists. | Leave aside the reality of all this expenses stuff for a moment. Just savour the frothing outrage over expenses coming from journalists. |