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Short's anger over expenses story Short's anger over expenses story
(39 minutes later)
Ex-Labour minister Clare Short has said she made an "honest mistake" in over-claiming expenses for her second home.Ex-Labour minister Clare Short has said she made an "honest mistake" in over-claiming expenses for her second home.
The MP was paid £8,000 too much after she claimed for her full mortgage payments when only entitled to the interest, the Daily Telegraph said.The MP was paid £8,000 too much after she claimed for her full mortgage payments when only entitled to the interest, the Daily Telegraph said.
But she repaid in 2006 and said:"They are trying to pretend that everyone is cheating and it's just not true."But she repaid in 2006 and said:"They are trying to pretend that everyone is cheating and it's just not true."
Justice Minister Shahid Malik claimed thousands of pounds on his second home while renting his main home.Justice Minister Shahid Malik claimed thousands of pounds on his second home while renting his main home.
The latest expenses details come after a Labour MP was suspended and a Tory aide quit over their claims. 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.
Ms Short, who now sits as an independent MP for Birmingham Ladywood after quitting the cabinet over the Iraq war, is among MPs whose claims are scrutinised in Friday's Telegraph.
'No fiddle''No fiddle'
The newspaper reported she was asked to pay back more than £8,000 and wrote to the fees office at the time to say "I was not clear about the rules on capital and interest and always sent in documentation and am surprised your office did not pick up the problem". The Telegraph reported Ms Short was asked to pay back more than £8,000 and wrote to the fees office at the time to say she was surprised it had not picked up on the problem.
Ms Short said the money had been repaid in 2006, long before the row over MPs' expenses receipts began. 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 over MPs' expenses receipts began.
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 - but had repaid the money when the error was pointed out in 2006. 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 try 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 try 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 added that the 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 added the stories "may increase the vote for the BNP, make people cynical about perfectly good people who have worked in their communities to help people".
Angry audienceAngry audience
In other revelations the Telegraph reports that Justice Minister Mr Malik - who claimed the most expenses of all 646 MPs in 2007 - claimed thousands of pounds in expenses on his second home while renting his main home. The Telegraph also reports that 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. He was allowed to do so.
The report on Mr Malik suggest he claimed a total of £66,827 in second homes allowances over three years. It reports he claimed £2,500 for a cinema system, later reduced by half by fees office.
It also reports he claimed £2,500 for a cinema system, which was later reduced by half by fees office, and £65 for court summons for non payment of council tax. He claimed £65 for court summons for non payment of council tax 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 and said he had repaid the £65 on Thursday. He said the house was where he spent most of his time so it was legitimate to claim for the second home in London.
Mr Malik denies any wrongdoingMr Malik denies any wrongdoing
Meanwhile 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 stories.Meanwhile 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 stories.
Mrs Beckett and Sir Menzies both found their claims scrutinised in the Daily Telegraph and sought to defend them on the programme and there were calls of "too late" when the MPs referred to plans to independently scrutinise all claims made. Mrs Beckett and Sir Menzies both found their claims scrutinised in 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.
After the programme, Michael Portillo said: "I hardly remember a Question Time like it."After the programme, Michael Portillo said: "I hardly remember a Question Time like it."
Days of revelations about expenses claims made by MPs from all the main parties have led to many members saying they will pay back claims. Many MPs have already said they will pay back claims.
Politicians from all parties know that they are on the ropes because of this scandal and with more revelations likely they are finding it hard to fight back, said BBC political correspondent Ben Wright.
'Sloppy accounting''Sloppy accounting'
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.
He 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."He 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."