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More MPs face expenses scrutiny More MPs face expenses scrutiny
(10 minutes later)
Clare Short and Justice Minister Shahid Malik are among the latest MPs to have their expenses scrutinised as public anger mounts over the revelations.Clare Short and Justice Minister Shahid Malik are among the latest MPs to have their expenses scrutinised as public anger mounts over the revelations.
Ms Short was paid £8,000 too much after she claimed on her second home for full mortgage payments instead of just the interest, the Daily Telegraph said.Ms Short was paid £8,000 too much after she claimed on her second home for full mortgage payments instead of just the interest, the Daily Telegraph said.
She said it was "an honest mistake", she repaid the sum in 2006 and said the paper was trying to "smear" all MPs.She said it was "an honest mistake", she repaid the sum in 2006 and said the paper was trying to "smear" all MPs.
Mr Malik claimed thousands of pounds on his second home while renting his home.Mr Malik claimed thousands of pounds on his second home while renting his home.
A day after a Labour MP was suspended and a Tory aide quit over their housing claims the Daily Mail has started a campaign to fund private prosecutions against several MPs. A day after a Labour MP was suspended and a Tory aide quit over their housing claims the Daily Mail has started a campaign to fund private prosecutions against some MPs.
'No fiddle''No fiddle'
The Telegraph reported the former international development secretary Ms Short was asked to pay back more than £8,000 and wrote to the Commons fees office at the time to say she was surprised it had not picked up on the problem.The Telegraph reported the former international development secretary Ms Short was asked to pay back more than £8,000 and wrote to the Commons fees office at the time to say she was surprised it had not picked up on the problem.
Ms Short, who now sits as an independent MP for Birmingham Ladywood after quitting the cabinet over the Iraq war, said the money had been repaid in 2006, long before the row began over MPs' expenses receipts.Ms Short, who now sits as an independent MP for Birmingham Ladywood after quitting the cabinet over the Iraq war, said the money had been repaid in 2006, long before the row began over MPs' expenses receipts.
She told the BBC she had switched from an interest-only to a repayment mortgage and had continued to send bills to the fees office.She told the BBC she had switched from an interest-only to a repayment mortgage and had continued to send bills to the fees office.
She said: "This was years ago - the system worked, I made a mistake - the money was repaid, there was no fiddle of any kind, no milking the system and now they are trying to pretend that everyone is cheating and it's just not true."She said: "This was years ago - the system worked, I made a mistake - the money was repaid, there was no fiddle of any kind, no milking the system and now they are trying to pretend that everyone is cheating and it's just not true."
She added: "I think they [Daily Telegraph] are just trying to smear everybody, it was an honest mistake."She added: "I think they [Daily Telegraph] are just trying to smear everybody, it was an honest mistake."
She suggested that the news stories "may increase the vote for the BNP, make people cynical about perfectly good people who have worked in their communities to help people".She suggested that the news stories "may increase the vote for the BNP, make people cynical about perfectly good people who have worked in their communities to help people".
Court summons claimCourt summons claim
The Telegraph also reports Justice Minister Mr Malik - who claimed the most expenses of all 646 MPs in 2007 - claimed a maximum of £66,827 allowances over three years for his second home in London.The Telegraph also reports Justice Minister Mr Malik - who claimed the most expenses of all 646 MPs in 2007 - claimed a maximum of £66,827 allowances over three years for his second home in London.
Mr Malik denies any wrongdoing Ms Short resigned over the Iraq war, Mr Malik is justice minister
It reports he claimed £2,500 for a cinema system, later reduced by half by the fees office.It reports he claimed £2,500 for a cinema system, later reduced by half by the fees office.
He claimed £65 for a court summons for council tax non-payment but he repaid this on Thursday.He claimed £65 for a court summons for council tax non-payment but he repaid this on Thursday.
Mr Malik said the report's suggestion he paid only £100 a week in rent on his "main home" in his Dewsbury constituency was a "fabrication".Mr Malik said the report's suggestion he paid only £100 a week in rent on his "main home" in his Dewsbury constituency was a "fabrication".
He said the house was where he spent most of his time so it was legitimate to claim for the second home in London.He said the house was where he spent most of his time so it was legitimate to claim for the second home in London.
Elsewhere on BBC One's Question Time, housing minister Margaret Beckett, former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Tory frontbencher Theresa May were barracked by the audience over the expenses issue.Elsewhere on BBC One's Question Time, housing minister Margaret Beckett, former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Tory frontbencher Theresa May were barracked by the audience over the expenses issue.
Mrs Beckett and Sir Menzies have both had their claims scrutinised by the Daily Telegraph and sought to defend them on the programme.Mrs Beckett and Sir Menzies have both had their claims scrutinised by the Daily Telegraph and sought to defend them on the programme.
There were calls of "too late" when the MPs referred to plans to independently scrutinise all claims made.There were calls of "too late" when the MPs referred to plans to independently scrutinise all claims made.
After the programme, ex-Tory cabinet minister Michael Portillo said: "I hardly remember a Question Time like it."After the programme, ex-Tory cabinet minister Michael Portillo said: "I hardly remember a Question Time like it."
Meanwhile The Daily Mail has joined forces with low-tax campaign group the TaxPayers' Alliance to raise money for private prosecutions against some MPs.Meanwhile The Daily Mail has joined forces with low-tax campaign group the TaxPayers' Alliance to raise money for private prosecutions against some MPs.
Mark Wallace , from the alliance, told the BBC that it was important that the worst cases were properly investigated.Mark Wallace , from the alliance, told the BBC that it was important that the worst cases were properly investigated.
"We've already spoken to the police about requesting an investigation and, I've got to say, if the police drop the ball and if we think it's a better alternative, we may well be going for a private prosecution, that's something we're taking extremely seriously.""We've already spoken to the police about requesting an investigation and, I've got to say, if the police drop the ball and if we think it's a better alternative, we may well be going for a private prosecution, that's something we're taking extremely seriously."
'Sloppy accounting''Sloppy accounting'
BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said politicians from all parties know that they under pressure because of this scandal and with more revelations likely they are finding it hard to fight back.BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said politicians from all parties know that they under pressure because of this scandal and with more revelations likely they are finding it hard to fight back.
On Thursday the Labour MP and former minister Elliot Morley was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after it emerged he had claimed £16,000 in mortgage payments, for 18 months after the mortgage had ended.On Thursday the Labour MP and former minister Elliot Morley was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after it emerged he had claimed £16,000 in mortgage payments, for 18 months after the mortgage had ended.
He blamed it on "sloppy accounting", apologised and has paid the money back.He blamed it on "sloppy accounting", apologised and has 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.
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.
He claimed the second home allowance on his London address, while his wife, Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, claimed it for another home.He claimed the second home allowance on his London address, while his wife, Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, claimed it for another home.
Between them they claimed 98.5% of the total allowance available to them since 2004.Between them they claimed 98.5% of the total allowance available to them since 2004.
Mr MacKay has said he will pay back an amount decided by the Tory panel, adding: "Due to an error of judgement in accepting advice from the fees office I have let a lot of people down."Mr MacKay has said he will pay back an amount decided by the Tory panel, adding: "Due to an error of judgement in accepting advice from the fees office I have let a lot of people down."