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| MPs hit back over expenses claims | MPs hit back over expenses claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MPs have been defending their expenses claims after more details were published in the Daily Telegraph. | MPs have been defending their expenses claims after more details were published in the Daily Telegraph. |
| Margaret Moran, the Labour MP for Luton, is alleged to have claimed more than £20,000 for a house in Southampton 100 miles from her constituency. | Margaret Moran, the Labour MP for Luton, is alleged to have claimed more than £20,000 for a house in Southampton 100 miles from her constituency. |
| But she told the BBC the report was "inaccurate" and "probably actionable". | |
| Immigration minister Phil Woolas has also threatened legal action over "disgusting" allegations he claimed for women's clothing, nappies and comics. | Immigration minister Phil Woolas has also threatened legal action over "disgusting" allegations he claimed for women's clothing, nappies and comics. |
| The Telegraph said Ms Moran spent £22,500 on treating dry rot at the Southampton property, which she had designated as her second home. | The Telegraph said Ms Moran spent £22,500 on treating dry rot at the Southampton property, which she had designated as her second home. |
| Woolas: Items on receipts not claimed | Woolas: Items on receipts not claimed |
| In an interview for the Politics Show East to be broadcast on Sunday on BBC One at 1100, Ms Moran insisted she had "done everything by the rules" and said the Telegraph article was "incredibly misleading". | |
| It included "inaccuracies, some of which I think are probably actionable and I think that it is deeply irresponsible", she added. | |
| Meanwhile, Mr Woolas called the Telegraph's reporting "absolutely disgusting" and said he believed the newspaper's claims might be "actionable" and he was seeking legal advice. | Meanwhile, Mr Woolas called the Telegraph's reporting "absolutely disgusting" and 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. |
| Health minister Ben Bradshaw - Exeter MP and minister for the South West - also says claims made about his expenses in Saturday's paper were factually wrong. | Health minister Ben Bradshaw - Exeter MP and minister for the South West - also says claims made about his expenses in Saturday's paper were factually wrong. |
| The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence Care services minister Phil Hope MPs' expense claims - key details Q&A: The MP expenses row | The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence Care services minister Phil Hope MPs' expense claims - key details Q&A: The MP expenses row |
| Labour ministers Phil Hope and Barbara Follett, as well as Tory MP Greg Barker, who were also named, say they have not broken parliamentary rules. | Labour ministers Phil Hope and Barbara Follett, as well as Tory MP Greg Barker, who were also named, say they have not broken parliamentary rules. |
| Police complaint | Police complaint |
| The Telegraph's latest story came a day after the paper published details of 13 Cabinet ministers' expenses. It plans to publish further revelations about MPs from other parties in the coming days. | The Telegraph's latest story came a day after the paper published details of 13 Cabinet ministers' expenses. It plans to publish further revelations about MPs from other parties in the coming 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. |
| The Telegraph also printed details of the expenses of Keith Vaz, a former minister who now chairs the home affairs select committee. | The Telegraph also printed details of the expenses of Keith Vaz, a former minister who now chairs the home affairs select committee. |
| Mr Vaz reportedly claimed £75,000 for a Westminster flat although his family's home is 12 miles away in Stanmore. | 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. | 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 first prominent Conservative MP was also named by the paper. Shadow climate change minister Greg Barker denied he made a profit on the sale of a house by "working the expenses system". | The first prominent Conservative MP was also named by the paper. Shadow climate change minister Greg Barker denied he made a profit on the sale of a house by "working the expenses system". |
| He said the Telegraph story did not make clear "that there was a very substantial six-figure sum of my own money involved, that wasn't claimed for". | He said the Telegraph story did not make clear "that there was a very substantial six-figure sum of my own money involved, that wasn't claimed for". |
| "It would be completely inaccurate and untrue for the Telegraph to allege that the difference in purchase and sale price represented a profit." | "It would be completely inaccurate and untrue for the Telegraph to allege that the difference in purchase and sale price represented a profit." |
| 'Disgusting' reporting | 'Disgusting' reporting |
| Labour minister Barbara Follett claimed more than £25,000 for security at her home, but she said this met Commons rules and gave no further comment. | Labour minister Barbara Follett claimed more than £25,000 for security at her home, but she said this met Commons rules and gave no further comment. |
| 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 question you have to ask is who devised the system? MPs devised the system under their self-regulating arrangements Sir Alistair Graham, ex-chairman, committee for standards in public life | The question you have to ask is who devised the system? MPs devised the system under their self-regulating arrangements Sir Alistair Graham, ex-chairman, committee for standards in public life |
| The wife of author Ken Follett and one of Parliament's richest MPs, she 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. | The wife of author Ken Follett and one of Parliament's richest MPs, she 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 said the item not accepted was claimed in error and was one of the two occasions in the last 12 years her expenses claims had been queried. | She said the item not accepted was claimed in error and was one of the two occasions in the last 12 years her expenses claims had been queried. |
| Ms Follett said she and her husband had put far more money into running her constituency than they had ever claimed in allowances, and accused the newspaper of using "selective evidence" to focus on "mundane detail about the lives of Labour MPs". | Ms Follett said she and her husband had put far more money into running her constituency than they had ever claimed in allowances, and accused the newspaper of using "selective evidence" to focus on "mundane detail about the lives of Labour MPs". |
| Saturday's 11-page report also said 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 11-page report also said 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." | "I have not personally benefited from this process." |
| 'Drip, drip' | 'Drip, drip' |
| 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. | But instead, the Telegraph is revealing the information early. |
| Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey, a member of the House of Commons Commission, which is responsible for publishing the data, said it would be premature to release it while officials were still "getting it into a form where the public can make some sense out of it". | Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey, a member of the House of Commons Commission, which is responsible for publishing the data, said it would be premature to release it while officials were still "getting it into a form where the public can make some sense out of it". |
| Former chairman of the committee for standards in public life, Sir Alistair Graham, said the expenses system had to be decided in the public and taxpayers' interest, by an independent outside body. | Former chairman of the committee for standards in public life, Sir Alistair Graham, said the expenses system had to be decided in the public and taxpayers' interest, by an independent outside body. |
| "It is depressing to keep hearing [MPs] saying 'well, it's the system that was wrong and we are changing the system'. | "It is depressing to keep hearing [MPs] saying 'well, it's the system that was wrong and we are changing the system'. |
| "The question you have to ask is who devised the system? MPs devised the system under their self-regulating arrangements and that's what must change for the future." | "The question you have to ask is who devised the system? MPs devised the system under their self-regulating arrangements and that's what must change for the future." |
| An ICM poll of 508 adults for the News of the World suggested that more than two-thirds of respondents believed the expenses revelations had damaged the prime minister. | An ICM poll of 508 adults for the News of the World suggested that more than two-thirds of respondents believed the expenses revelations had damaged the prime minister. |
| Some 89% believed the reputation of parliament had been tarnished, and 91% said they wanted expenses records to be published in full straight away. | Some 89% believed the reputation of parliament had been tarnished, and 91% said they wanted expenses records to be published in full straight away. |