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End expenses 'bloodfest' - Malik End expenses 'bloodfest' - Malik
(10 minutes later)
Justice minister Shahid Malik has gone on the offensive after becoming the latest MP to be singled out by The Daily Telegraph over expenses claims.Justice minister Shahid Malik has gone on the offensive after becoming the latest MP to be singled out by The Daily Telegraph over expenses claims.
Mr Malik insists he stuck "a million per cent by the rules" and said some of paper's claims were a "fabrication".Mr Malik insists he stuck "a million per cent by the rules" and said some of paper's claims were a "fabrication".
He called for a halt to stories about expenses, telling the BBC: "This bloodfest has got to stop...otherwise we will have no democracy left."He called for a halt to stories about expenses, telling the BBC: "This bloodfest has got to stop...otherwise we will have no democracy left."
It comes as Labour slumped to its lowest opinion poll rating ever.It comes as Labour slumped to its lowest opinion poll rating ever.
FraudFraud
But MPs of all parties are facing a rising tide of public anger after eight days of revelations in the Daily Telegraph, with some MPs saying they have been jeered at in the street.But MPs of all parties are facing a rising tide of public anger after eight days of revelations in the Daily Telegraph, with some MPs saying they have been jeered at in the street.
There are also growing calls for some MPs to be investigated for fraud, with the Daily Mail starting a campaign to fund private prosecutions.There are also growing calls for some MPs to be investigated for fraud, with the Daily Mail starting a campaign to fund private prosecutions.
The thirst for blood from some elements of the media just seems like it's unstoppable Shahid Malik, justice minister MP-by-MP: Expenses claimsThe thirst for blood from some elements of the media just seems like it's unstoppable Shahid Malik, justice minister MP-by-MP: Expenses claims
In its latest front page revelations, the Telegraph turns the spotlight on what it says is the controversial way Mr Malik ran up the highest expenses bill of any MP.In its latest front page revelations, the Telegraph turns the spotlight on what it says is the controversial way Mr Malik ran up the highest expenses bill of any MP.
It says he claimed the maximum amount allowable for a second home - £66,827 over three years - but secured a discounted rent of £100 a week for his main family home, which he pays out of his own pocket.It says he claimed the maximum amount allowable for a second home - £66,827 over three years - but secured a discounted rent of £100 a week for his main family home, which he pays out of his own pocket.
The newspaper alleges the three bedroom family home is rented from a local landlord who was fined for letting out "uninhabitable" properties.The newspaper alleges the three bedroom family home is rented from a local landlord who was fined for letting out "uninhabitable" properties.
On inside pages, it also lists Mr Malik's £13,942 "furniture bill" for the past three years, which includes a £2,100 claim for a large flat screen television and £500 for a "home cinema" system.On inside pages, it also lists Mr Malik's £13,942 "furniture bill" for the past three years, which includes a £2,100 claim for a large flat screen television and £500 for a "home cinema" system.
Worthy causesWorthy causes
The Parliamentary fees office partially rejected these claims, paying out £1,050 for the TV and £250 for the DVD system respectively, and also rejected outright a £299 claim for an I-Pod. The Parliamentary fees office partially rejected these claims, paying out £1,050 for the TV and £250 for the DVD system and also rejected outright a £299 claim for an I-Pod.
He also claimed £65 for a court summons for council tax non-payment but he repaid this on Thursday.He also claimed £65 for a court summons for council tax non-payment but he repaid this on Thursday.
Margaret Beckett and Sir Menzies Campbell were heckled about claims on Question TimeMargaret Beckett and Sir Menzies Campbell were heckled about claims on Question Time
But the MP has hit back in a series of media interviews, claiming much of the reporting about his expenses was "absolute nonsense".But the MP has hit back in a series of media interviews, claiming much of the reporting about his expenses was "absolute nonsense".
Speaking from Dewsbury, he insisted he was "as straight as they come", and said he had asked the fees office for guidance before submitting claims and had stuck to the rules.Speaking from Dewsbury, he insisted he was "as straight as they come", and said he had asked the fees office for guidance before submitting claims and had stuck to the rules.
He said nearly every other MP in the country - including David Cameron - had spent the same amount as him and the Tory-supporting Telegraph's reporting was politically motivated.He said nearly every other MP in the country - including David Cameron - had spent the same amount as him and the Tory-supporting Telegraph's reporting was politically motivated.
He pledged to donate £1,050 he claimed for a television to worthy local causes in his constituency.He pledged to donate £1,050 he claimed for a television to worthy local causes in his constituency.
'Bloodfest''Bloodfest'
But he added: "I am not doing it because I have done anything wrong.. if I had done anything wrong I would be paying it back to the Parliamentary authorities."But he added: "I am not doing it because I have done anything wrong.. if I had done anything wrong I would be paying it back to the Parliamentary authorities."
He said the public "had a right to be angry and horrified" about what had emerged on expenses but he also rounded on the media, saying: "I think it's really important that we try to draw a line behind this... the thirst for blood from some elements of the media just seems like it's unstoppable."He said the public "had a right to be angry and horrified" about what had emerged on expenses but he also rounded on the media, saying: "I think it's really important that we try to draw a line behind this... the thirst for blood from some elements of the media just seems like it's unstoppable."
The Telegraph also singles out former cabinet minster Clare Short, who it says was paid £8,000 too much after she claimed on her second home for her full mortgage payments rather than just the interest.The Telegraph also singles out former cabinet minster Clare Short, who it says was paid £8,000 too much after she claimed on her second home for her full mortgage payments rather than just the interest.
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.
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.
'Smear everybody''Smear everybody'
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".
After a day in which one ex-Labour minister was suspended from the Parliamentary party and a Tory aide quit the public vented its anger against MPs on a stormy edition of BBC One's Question Time.After a day in which one ex-Labour minister was suspended from the Parliamentary party and a Tory aide quit the public vented its anger against MPs on a stormy edition of BBC One's Question Time.
Housing minister and former foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Tory frontbencher Theresa May were barracked by the audience over the expenses issue.Housing minister and former foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Tory frontbencher Theresa May were barracked by the audience over the expenses issue.
A YouGov poll of 1,814 people for The Sun newspaper suggests Labour support at a general election would be 22%, with the Conservatives on 41% and the Liberal Democrats on 19%. If repeated at a general election, the Conservatives would win with a Commons majority of 152.A YouGov poll of 1,814 people for The Sun newspaper suggests Labour support at a general election would be 22%, with the Conservatives on 41% and the Liberal Democrats on 19%. If repeated at a general election, the Conservatives would win with a Commons majority of 152.
Asked about voting intentions at next month's European elections the big gainers appear to be the UK Independence Party, with support at 15% - with the Lib Dems on 19%, Labour on 20% and the Conservatives on 29%.Asked about voting intentions at next month's European elections the big gainers appear to be the UK Independence Party, with support at 15% - with the Lib Dems on 19%, Labour on 20% and the Conservatives on 29%.
The poll also suggests that in the European elections the Green Party has 6% support and the BNP 3%.The poll also suggests that in the European elections the Green Party has 6% support and the BNP 3%.
We are looking for people who are interested in their own MP's behaviour.We are looking for people who are interested in their own MP's behaviour.
What do you think of your MP's record on allowances? Has it been fairly represented? Will you be supporting or criticising your MP this weekend? If you are a party worker or member, how are you responding to the public furore? Will you be holding related meetings or events over the weekend? Tell us your stories using the below form.What do you think of your MP's record on allowances? Has it been fairly represented? Will you be supporting or criticising your MP this weekend? If you are a party worker or member, how are you responding to the public furore? Will you be holding related meetings or events over the weekend? Tell us your stories using the below form.
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