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| Labour MP faces mortgage claims | Labour MP faces mortgage claims |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Another Labour MP faces allegations that he claimed thousands of pounds for a mortgage he had already cleared. | Another Labour MP faces allegations that he claimed thousands of pounds for a mortgage he had already cleared. |
| According to the Daily Telegraph, Bury North MP David Chaytor received nearly £13,000 for a flat in Westminster that had been paid off in 2004. | According to the Daily Telegraph, Bury North MP David Chaytor received nearly £13,000 for a flat in Westminster that had been paid off in 2004. |
| The MP, thought to be on his way back from the US, is said to have admitted he made an "unforgivable error". | The MP, thought to be on his way back from the US, is said to have admitted he made an "unforgivable error". |
| Labour MPs Sir Gerald Kaufman and Chris Bryant and Tory Anthony Steen also face fresh allegations over expense claims. | Labour MPs Sir Gerald Kaufman and Chris Bryant and Tory Anthony Steen also face fresh allegations over expense claims. |
| Earlier this week, former farming minister Eliot Morley was suspended from the Labour Party after he admitted claiming £16,000 in House of Commons expenses for a mortgage which had been paid off. | Earlier this week, former farming minister Eliot Morley was suspended from the Labour Party after he admitted claiming £16,000 in House of Commons expenses for a mortgage which had been paid off. |
| Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik also stood down from his junior minister job on Friday, pending an inquiry into his expenses. | Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik also stood down from his junior minister job on Friday, pending an inquiry into his expenses. |
| The BBC has been unable to speak to Mr Chaytor, who has been on an official trip to the US. | The BBC has been unable to speak to Mr Chaytor, who has been on an official trip to the US. |
| But the Telegraph quotes him as saying there had been an "unforgivable error in my accounting procedures for which I apologise unreservedly". | But the Telegraph quotes him as saying there had been an "unforgivable error in my accounting procedures for which I apologise unreservedly". |
| He reportedly told the paper he would immediately arrange repayment to the House of Commons fees office. | He reportedly told the paper he would immediately arrange repayment to the House of Commons fees office. |
| David Cameron has made a party political broadcast about MPs' expenses | David Cameron has made a party political broadcast about MPs' expenses |
| The Telegraph also says he "flipped" the designation of his second home six times, including once to a house registered in his son's name. | The Telegraph also says he "flipped" the designation of his second home six times, including once to a house registered in his son's name. |
| According to BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue, Downing Street sources had said they took the matter "very seriously", and Labour's chief whip would be discussing the matter urgently with Mr Chaytor. | According to BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue, Downing Street sources had said they took the matter "very seriously", and Labour's chief whip would be discussing the matter urgently with Mr Chaytor. |
| Mr Chaytor's wife Sheena said her husband "was very shocked when he heard" of the claims around his expenses, adding that he was "flabbergasted, he could not believe it". | Mr Chaytor's wife Sheena said her husband "was very shocked when he heard" of the claims around his expenses, adding that he was "flabbergasted, he could not believe it". |
| She said: "He has made a really stupid mistake. It was a mistake but I do not suppose anybody will believe that. I hope so though." | She said: "He has made a really stupid mistake. It was a mistake but I do not suppose anybody will believe that. I hope so though." |
| The Telegraph also says veteran Labour MP Sir Gerald Kaufman claimed £1,851 for a rug from a New York antique centre and tried to claim more than £8,000 for a television. | The Telegraph also says veteran Labour MP Sir Gerald Kaufman claimed £1,851 for a rug from a New York antique centre and tried to claim more than £8,000 for a television. |
| The paper says Sir Gerald has offered to repay the money for the rug and says he described the claim for the television as "a bit daft". | The paper says Sir Gerald has offered to repay the money for the rug and says he described the claim for the television as "a bit daft". |
| Due to the increase in... allegations [we have] decided to convene a panel to assess allegations... to decide whether criminal investigations should be started Crown Prosecution Service / Metropolitan Police statement Calls to prosecute expenses MPs Expense row minister steps down | Due to the increase in... allegations [we have] decided to convene a panel to assess allegations... to decide whether criminal investigations should be started Crown Prosecution Service / Metropolitan Police statement Calls to prosecute expenses MPs Expense row minister steps down |
| Another Labour MP, Chris Bryant, was accused by the paper of flipping his second home twice in two years. | Another Labour MP, Chris Bryant, was accused by the paper of flipping his second home twice in two years. |
| Mr Bryant has described the allegations as unfounded and inaccurate. | Mr Bryant has described the allegations as unfounded and inaccurate. |
| The Telegraph says the Conservative MP for Totnes in Devon, Anthony Steen, claimed thousands of pounds on his country home, including paying a forestry expert to inspect his trees. | The Telegraph says the Conservative MP for Totnes in Devon, Anthony Steen, claimed thousands of pounds on his country home, including paying a forestry expert to inspect his trees. |
| He reportedly told the paper he would be meeting party leader David Cameron's scrutiny panel next week to discuss his claims, and would repay any sum if asked to do so. | He reportedly told the paper he would be meeting party leader David Cameron's scrutiny panel next week to discuss his claims, and would repay any sum if asked to do so. |
| Other MPs featured in the Telegraph, which has obtained more than a million receipts for MPs' claims, include: | Other MPs featured in the Telegraph, which has obtained more than a million receipts for MPs' claims, include: |
| • Liberal Democrat culture spokesman and Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross, who said he had repaid more than £4,000 claimed for mirrors, a hi-fi, and a £1,475 chest of drawers for his rented London flat. | • Liberal Democrat culture spokesman and Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross, who said he had repaid more than £4,000 claimed for mirrors, a hi-fi, and a £1,475 chest of drawers for his rented London flat. |
| • Tory MP Nadine Dorries, who has vehemently rejected Daily Telegraph allegations that she spent only free weekends and holidays in the property she calls her main home. | • Tory MP Nadine Dorries, who has vehemently rejected Daily Telegraph allegations that she spent only free weekends and holidays in the property she calls her main home. |
| • Former long-serving Labour MP Tam Dalyell who told the BBC he was "entirely relaxed" about allegations in Saturday's Telegraph that he attempted to claim £18,000 for bookcases, two months before retiring from Parliament in 2005. Mr Dalyell said the Commons fees office eventually paid about £7,800. | |
| Angry constituents | Angry constituents |
| After a week of stories alleging MPs misused their rights to allowances and expenses, many have now returned to their constituencies to face their voters in person. | After a week of stories alleging MPs misused their rights to allowances and expenses, many have now returned to their constituencies to face their voters in person. |
| On Wednesday a window was smashed at the offices of Bromsgrove Conservative MP Julie Kirkbride, whose Tory MP husband was sacked by Mr Cameron after his second home claim was questioned. | On Wednesday a window was smashed at the offices of Bromsgrove Conservative MP Julie Kirkbride, whose Tory MP husband was sacked by Mr Cameron after his second home claim was questioned. |
| And a prankster carved a three-foot pound sign into MP Alan Duncan's garden and filled it with flowers. | And a prankster carved a three-foot pound sign into MP Alan Duncan's garden and filled it with flowers. |
| Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police Service and Crown Prosecution Service are due to meet next week to discuss whether a criminal investigation should be launched into some of the Telegraph's allegations about MPs. | Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police Service and Crown Prosecution Service are due to meet next week to discuss whether a criminal investigation should be launched into some of the Telegraph's allegations about MPs. |
| It is thought this was partly prompted by a number of complaints from members of the public. | It is thought this was partly prompted by a number of complaints from members of the public. |
| Political parties are trying to limit the damage caused by the Telegraph's exposures. | Political parties are trying to limit the damage caused by the Telegraph's exposures. |
| The Guardian newspaper says proposals, expected to be agreed by Labour's national executive next week, will see any of the party's MPs who are found to make improper expenses claims deselected and barred from standing at the next general election. | The Guardian newspaper says proposals, expected to be agreed by Labour's national executive next week, will see any of the party's MPs who are found to make improper expenses claims deselected and barred from standing at the next general election. |
| And on Friday, Tory leader Mr Cameron abandoned his party political broadcast for the European Parliament Election, and instead broadcast an apology over the expenses issues, which included a pledge to "sort it out". | And on Friday, Tory leader Mr Cameron abandoned his party political broadcast for the European Parliament Election, and instead broadcast an apology over the expenses issues, which included a pledge to "sort it out". |