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Short mortgage claim 'excessive' Short mortgage claim 'excessive'
(10 minutes later)
Former Labour Cabinet minister Clare Short was paid more than £8,000 of taxpayers' money to which she was not entitled, the Daily Telegraph has said.Former Labour Cabinet minister Clare Short was paid more than £8,000 of taxpayers' money to which she was not entitled, the Daily Telegraph has said.
She is said to have been paid the full cost of a mortgage for two and a half years despite being entitled to charge only for the interest on it.She is said to have been paid the full cost of a mortgage for two and a half years despite being entitled to charge only for the interest on it.
The MP told the BBC she made an "honest mistake" but had paid the money back in 2006 as soon as it was brought up.The MP told the BBC she made an "honest mistake" but had paid the money back in 2006 as soon as it was brought up.
The paper says it is also to publish allegations about a serving minister.The paper says it is also to publish allegations about a serving minister.
The MP for Birmingham Ladywood resigned from her Cabinet role as international development secretary over the Iraq War and now sits as an independent.The MP for Birmingham Ladywood resigned from her Cabinet role as international development secretary over the Iraq War and now sits as an independent.
It comes as part the latest round of revelations in the Daily Telegraph about MPs' expenses.It comes as part the latest round of revelations in the Daily Telegraph about MPs' expenses.
Minister suspendedMinister suspended
Ms Short is said to have paid back £8,436.36 when the error was pointed out by the Commons Fees Office in 2006.Ms Short is said to have paid back £8,436.36 when the error was pointed out by the Commons Fees Office in 2006.
She told the paper: "When I found out that I had been making a mistake, I was embarrassed and irritated that it took the fees office so long to pick this up. She told the BBC: "I think they [Daily Telegraph] are just trying to smear everybody, it was an honest mistake, the fees office picked it up.
"Now they're just trying to smear everybody and make out everybody's cheating, but this thing happened years ago."
In the paper, she is quoted as saying: "When I found out that I had been making a mistake, I was embarrassed and irritated that it took the fees office so long to pick this up.
"I paid what was due and corrected future claims. I think this is an example of the fees office working as it should, if a little belatedly.""I paid what was due and corrected future claims. I think this is an example of the fees office working as it should, if a little belatedly."
Earlier on Thursday, former minister Elliot Morley was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after claiming £16,000 expenses for a mortgage he had already paid off.Earlier on Thursday, former minister Elliot Morley was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after claiming £16,000 expenses for a mortgage he had already paid off.
Mr Morley said the claim had been a "mistake" due to "sloppy accounting" and said he had paid the money back.Mr Morley said the claim had been a "mistake" due to "sloppy accounting" and said he had paid the money back.
The MP for Scunthorpe, has referred himself to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon in an effort to clear his name.The MP for Scunthorpe, has referred himself to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon in an effort to clear his name.
Mr Morley has not had the whip withdrawn, which would effectively expel him from the Parliamentary party - but Labour chief whip Nick Brown made it clear that he faced expulsion if he failed to clear his name.Mr Morley has not had the whip withdrawn, which would effectively expel him from the Parliamentary party - but Labour chief whip Nick Brown made it clear that he faced expulsion if he failed to clear his name.
Conservative MP Andrew MacKay also resigned as aide to David Cameron over an "unacceptable" expenses claim.Conservative MP Andrew MacKay also resigned as aide to David Cameron over an "unacceptable" expenses claim.