This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8041232.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| £25k on security in MPs' claims | £25k on security in MPs' claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Minister Barbara Follett claimed more than £25,000 for security at her London home, the Daily Telegraph says in its latest leak of MPs' expenses. | Minister Barbara Follett claimed more than £25,000 for security at her London home, the Daily Telegraph says in its latest leak of MPs' expenses. |
| The tourism minister said her claims for security patrols met Commons rules. | The tourism minister said her claims for security patrols met Commons rules. |
| Also named by the paper is immigration minister Phil Woolas who said he was seeking legal advice, denying claims for nappies and women's clothing. | Also named by the paper is immigration minister Phil Woolas who said he was seeking legal advice, denying claims for nappies and women's clothing. |
| The expenses claims reported by the paper come a day after it published details of 13 Cabinet minsters' claims. | |
| Downing Street earlier said there was "nothing wrong" with Gordon Brown's payments to his brother for a cleaner. | Downing Street earlier said there was "nothing wrong" with Gordon Brown's payments to his brother for a cleaner. |
| Saturday's Telegraph also has details of the expenses of Keith Vaz, a former minister who now chairs the home affairs select committee, health minister Ben Bradshaw and Labour MP Margaret Moran. | |
| Mr Bradshaw and Ms Moran have yet to comment, but there is no suggestion they broke the rules. | |
| The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence Care services minister Phil Hope | |
| Mr Vaz reportedly claimed £75,000 for a Westminster flat although his family's home is 12 miles away in Stanmore. | |
| He said that he had acted within the rules. He added that his designated home was in his Leicester constituency, the Westminster flat was his second home, and he made no claims for the home in Stanmore where his family lives. | |
| The paper plans to publish further revelations about MPs from other parties over the next few days. | |
| The Commons authorities have complained to the Metropolitan Police, who confirmed they were considering a request for an investigation into the leak to the paper. | The Commons authorities have complained to the Metropolitan Police, who confirmed they were considering a request for an investigation into the leak to the paper. |
| 'Disgusting' reporting | 'Disgusting' reporting |
| The first Conservative MP has also been named by the paper. Shadow climate change minister Greg Barker has denied he made a profit on the sale of a house by working the expenses system. | The first Conservative MP has also been named by the paper. Shadow climate change minister Greg Barker has denied he made a profit on the sale of a house by working the expenses system. |
| Mrs Follett's total bill for security patrols between 2004 and 2008 - which started after she was mugged - was £25,411.64, the paper said. | Mrs Follett's total bill for security patrols between 2004 and 2008 - which started after she was mugged - was £25,411.64, the paper said. |
| The wife of author Ken Follett and one of Parliament's richest MPs, she said: "I claimed it, it's within the rules and I have no comment to make." | The wife of author Ken Follett and one of Parliament's richest MPs, she said: "I claimed it, it's within the rules and I have no comment to make." |
| Mrs Follett also claimed £528.75 for a Chinese needlepoint rug to be repaired and cleaned, but was only paid back £300 after it was deemed excessive, the Telegraph said. | Mrs Follett also claimed £528.75 for a Chinese needlepoint rug to be repaired and cleaned, but was only paid back £300 after it was deemed excessive, the Telegraph said. |
| She told the newspaper: "As all of [my claims], bar one, have been accepted and cleared by the House of Commons Fees Office under the rules laid out in the Green Book, I have no further comment to make on them." | She told the newspaper: "As all of [my claims], bar one, have been accepted and cleared by the House of Commons Fees Office under the rules laid out in the Green Book, I have no further comment to make on them." |
| She said the item not accepted was claimed in error and was, "to the best of my knowledge, one of the only two occasions in the last 12 years when my expenses claims have been queried". | She said the item not accepted was claimed in error and was, "to the best of my knowledge, one of the only two occasions in the last 12 years when my expenses claims have been queried". |
| Mr Woolas called the Telegraph's reporting "absolutely disgusting" and said the paper was handling stolen property and making false allegations against ministers. | Mr Woolas called the Telegraph's reporting "absolutely disgusting" and said the paper was handling stolen property and making false allegations against ministers. |
| He said he believed the newspaper's claims might be "actionable" and he was seeking legal advice. | He said he believed the newspaper's claims might be "actionable" and he was seeking legal advice. |
| The minister claims nappies and women's clothing were listed on a receipt for food which he submitted, but he did not receive any money for them. | The minister claims nappies and women's clothing were listed on a receipt for food which he submitted, but he did not receive any money for them. |
| Saturday's paper reported that care services minister Phil Hope had spent more than £37,000 over about four years on refurbishing and furnishing a two-bedroom south London flat. | Saturday's paper reported that care services minister Phil Hope had spent more than £37,000 over about four years on refurbishing and furnishing a two-bedroom south London flat. |
| Mr Hope said: "I claimed the cost of running and furnishing a flat in London, in full accordance with the rules that apply to members of Parliament. | Mr Hope said: "I claimed the cost of running and furnishing a flat in London, in full accordance with the rules that apply to members of Parliament. |
| "The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence and replacements only occurred when furniture and fittings were worn out. These items were then disposed of. | "The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence and replacements only occurred when furniture and fittings were worn out. These items were then disposed of. |
| "I have not personally benefited from this process, nor did I make purchases that were inappropriate for the property concerned." | "I have not personally benefited from this process, nor did I make purchases that were inappropriate for the property concerned." |
| Information battle | Information battle |
| 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. | 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. |
| But instead, the Telegraph is revealing the information early and over several days. | But instead, the Telegraph is revealing the information early and over several days. |
| BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said: "Clearly at the moment it is very much the government that is suffering because of this, because it is cabinet ministers who are having the spotlight shone on their expenses and junior ministers. | BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said: "Clearly at the moment it is very much the government that is suffering because of this, because it is cabinet ministers who are having the spotlight shone on their expenses and junior ministers. |
| How can you possibly claim this amount of money for protection when we have a police service Martin Bell, former independent MP | How can you possibly claim this amount of money for protection when we have a police service Martin Bell, former independent MP |
| "But MPs from other parties are going to be drawn into this, backbenchers too. There is a feeling that that is where some of the real, shocking horror stories of claims may then come to light, on the back benches." | "But MPs from other parties are going to be drawn into this, backbenchers too. There is a feeling that that is where some of the real, shocking horror stories of claims may then come to light, on the back benches." |
| Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker has called for the official release of the information to be brought forward, to avoid the "drip drip effect" of the Daily Telegraph story. | Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker has called for the official release of the information to be brought forward, to avoid the "drip drip effect" of the Daily Telegraph story. |
| The former independent MP, Martin Bell, said he believed a few MPs would now have to resign, and others would have to accept major changes to their expenses. | The former independent MP, Martin Bell, said he believed a few MPs would now have to resign, and others would have to accept major changes to their expenses. |
| "I think the more we know about this, the worse it gets. I think Barbara Follet is in an almost impossible situation now. | "I think the more we know about this, the worse it gets. I think Barbara Follet is in an almost impossible situation now. |
| "It's not a matter of her wealth, it's a matter of how can you possibly claim this amount of money for protection when we have a police service?" | "It's not a matter of her wealth, it's a matter of how can you possibly claim this amount of money for protection when we have a police service?" |
| Labour MP, Stephen Pound said many MPs had proved themselves to be a "profound embarrassment" but said the details were obscuring the debate about finding a solution. | Labour MP, Stephen Pound said many MPs had proved themselves to be a "profound embarrassment" but said the details were obscuring the debate about finding a solution. |
| "While we are discussing this ridiculous detail about toilet seats and tampons, we should be discussing how do we make our democracy work." | "While we are discussing this ridiculous detail about toilet seats and tampons, we should be discussing how do we make our democracy work." |
| Earlier this week other expense claims revealed earlier include a £6,500 claim by Gordon Brown to pay his brother for a cleaner they shared. | Earlier this week other expense claims revealed earlier include a £6,500 claim by Gordon Brown to pay his brother for a cleaner they shared. |
| Lord Mandelson, who claimed £2,850 for his home before quitting as an MP and selling it for a large profit, said his 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 his claims were for essential repairs. |