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MPs 'claimed for swimming pools' MPs 'claimed for swimming pools'
(30 minutes later)
The costs of swimming pool maintenance are among expenses claims by eight Tory MPs, according to the Daily Telegraph.The costs of swimming pool maintenance are among expenses claims by eight Tory MPs, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Its report, based on leaked receipts, also says claims were made for clearing a moat, buying horse manure and mowing and rolling paddocks. The newspaper has highlighted what it calls the most extravagant claims published yet in its series of stories based on leaked MPs' receipts.
Tory leader David Cameron is said to be considering disciplinary action. Three MPs made claims relating to cleaning or repairs of swimming pools at their second homes, it alleges.
The latest allegations come as one MP has prepares a motion of no confidence in Commons Speaker Michael Martin over his handling of the expenses furore. But Tory former minister Douglas Hogg denied asking for £2,000 to cover the cost of clearing a moat on his estate.
The Telegraph has already published expenses claims made by Labour and Tory frontbenchers, including those for a lawnmower, dog food and changing light bulbs. The Daily Telegraph has already published claims made by Labour and Conservative frontbenchers in recent days - after details of all 646 MPs' claims were leaked.
'Angry' Moat claim
The latest stories relate mainly to backbench Conservative MPs. They were due to be published by Commons authorities in mid-July after they lost a Freedom of Information battle.
Party leader David Cameron said: "I am angry about what has happened. It is out of order. Some of this is an abuse of taxpayers' money, and I am going to deal with it." That official publication date may now be brought forward - some MPs have claimed that information published by the Telegraph is not accurate.
The Telegraph says former minister Douglas Hogg, MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, submitted claims for more than £2,000 to clear a moat around his estate and £14,500 for a housekeeper. Sources say leader David Cameron is appalled by some of the allegations that have emerged and is considering taking disciplinary action against those involved.
The pool came with the house and I needed to know how to run it. Once I was shown that one time, there were no more claims Stewart Jackson, Conservative MP class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8044411.stm">Speaker angry over expenses leak class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8045250.stm">Boycott big parties, says Tebbit The newspaper says the Conservative former minister Douglas Hogg submitted claims for more than £2,000 to clear a moat around his estate and £14,500 for a housekeeper.
But he told the BBC that, while he had claimed for a housekeeper, he had never asked to be reimbursed for the cost of cleaning the moat - it had simply been mentioned in details of expenditure on his house. But the MP told the BBC that while he claimed for a housekeeper he never asked to be reimbursed for the cost of cleaning the moat - it was simply mentioned in details of expenditure on his house.
Mr Hogg said all of his claims had been made with the prior agreement of the Commons fees office. The pool came with the house and I needed to know how to run it Stewart Jackson MP
Deputy Commons Speaker Alan Haslehurst, Tory MP for Saffron Walden, is reported to have claimed £142,000 on his country house, and £12,000 for gardening bills over five years. He said all of his claims were made with the prior agreement of the fees office.
He told the BBC he had claimed for £142,000 and had moved his second home allowance from London to his constituency when he became deputy speaker and believed the claim was within the rules. Deputy Speaker Alan Haslehurst is reported to have claimed £142,000 on his country house, and £12,000 for gardening bills over five years.
Conservative MP Stewart Jackson has confirmed that he made a claim of £304.10 for the upkeep of a swimming pool. He has told the BBC that he did claim for £142,000 and said he moved his second home allowance from London to his constituency when he became deputy speaker and believes that the claim was within the rules.
Boiler repair Conservative MP Stewart Jackson has confirmed that he made a claim for the upkeep of a swimming pool, but only did so once to learn how to do it himself.
But he added: "The pool came with the house and I needed to know how to run it. Once I was shown that one time, there were no more claims. I take care of the pool myself. I believe this represents 'value for money' for the taxpayer." "After moving into the constituency home in November 2005, I claimed £304.10 on a one-off basis for work on the swimming pool the following summer [August 2006].
According to the Telegraph, former shadow defence secretary Michael Ancram claimed £98.58 for the repair of a swimming pool boiler. "The pool came with the house and I needed to know how to run it. Once I was shown that one time, there were no more claims. I take care of the pool myself. I believe this represents 'value for money' for the taxpayer".
It also alleges that James Arbuthnot, chairman of the Commons defence select committee, claimed £1,471 for garden and swimming pool costs, as well as £2,433 "for the expense of our housekeeper". Other allegations in Tuesday's newspaper include one that a senior backbencher claimed more than £7,000 for his garden, including hedgecutting for a "helipad" - he told the newspaper that was a family joke.
The newspaper says senior backbencher Sir Michael Spicer claimed more than £7,000 for his garden, including hedge-cutting for a "helipad". He told the newspaper that was a family joke. 'Hollow apology'
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYThey chose their 'job' and no one is forcing them to do it. Pay them a wage and that's it. That's how the rest of us work. Michael, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6421">Send us your comments Other MPs are accused of claiming for mowing and rolling paddocks and one reportedly claimed £380 for horse manure and hundreds of bags of fertiliser.
The Telegraph says David Heathcoat-Amory, Tory MP for Wells, claimed more than £380 for horse manure for his garden.
It adds that former shadow home secretary David Davis claimed more than £2,000 on mowing and rolling his paddocks and £5,700 for a portico for his house in Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, Labour MP for Luton South Margaret Moran has issued a statement saying she will repay £22,500 used to treat dry rot at a property 100 miles from her constituency.Meanwhile, Labour MP for Luton South Margaret Moran has issued a statement saying she will repay £22,500 used to treat dry rot at a property 100 miles from her constituency.
She previously said the Southampton house was necessary for a "proper family life" because her partner had worked there for 20 years. Ms Moran previously said the Southampton house was necessary for a "proper family life" because her partner had worked there for 20 years.
Ms Moran now says she will repay the money because she understands constituents' anger about the payments. She now says she will repay the money because she understands constituents' anger over the payments.
On Monday Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of all political parties for MPs' expenses revelations over recent days, while Mr Cameron urged MPs to say "sorry" for the expenses system. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYThey chose their 'job' and no one is forcing them to do it. Pay them a wage and that's it. That's how the rest of us work. Michael, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6421">Send us your comments
'Extremely upset' On Monday Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of all political parties for MPs' expenses revelations over recent days. Tory leader David Cameron urged MPs to say "sorry" for the expenses system.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said it must not be a "hollow apology" and must be followed by real change.Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said it must not be a "hollow apology" and must be followed by real change.
Tory MP Douglas Carswell is seeking support for a motion of no confidence in the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, over the way he has handled the expenses furore. BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said it was highly unlikely the Commons authorities would be able to get ahead of the Daily Telegraph in publishing expenses claims.
Mr Carswell said he wanted the backing of six MPs before tabling his motion next week. She said many MPs were still deleting personal information from their receipts before forwarding them for publication.
On Monday, Mr Martin took part in angry exchanges with Labour's Kate Hoey and Lib Dem Norman Baker, who have been critical of his actions. Meanwhile, Tory MP Douglas Carswell is seeking cross-party support for a motion of no confidence in the House of Commons speaker, Michael Martin, over the way he has handled the furore.
He accused them of speaking to the press and leaving others to deal with the consequences. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Mr Martin had failed to take charge of the Commons' response.
But Mr Baker told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Mr Martin, in "attacking" MPs, "took off his umpire's hat and put on a player's hat". "There's a man who is out of his depth, who is reacting bizarrely to justified criticism over the way he and the Commons authorities have handled this," Mr Carswell added.
On the same programme, former Conservative chairman Lord Tebbit urged voters not to back any of the major political parties in next month's European elections, to show how "extremely upset" they are over the expenses furore.
The latest opinion poll, by Populus for The Times, suggests falls in support of 4% in both Labour and Conservative support.
Conducted by telephone over the weekend, it puts the Conservatives on 39% and Labour on 26%. The Lib Dems were up 4% to 22% and others up 4% to 13%.