This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8057559.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Blears vows to 'get on with job' | Blears vows to 'get on with job' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has insisted she is "getting on with the job" amid speculation over her future. | Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has insisted she is "getting on with the job" amid speculation over her future. |
| The prime minister has said Ms Blears was guilty of "totally unacceptable behaviour" over her expenses claims despite them being within the rules. | The prime minister has said Ms Blears was guilty of "totally unacceptable behaviour" over her expenses claims despite them being within the rules. |
| Amid speculation this signalled she was in line for the chop, Gordon Brown's official spokesman told reporters: "She's doing a good job." | Amid speculation this signalled she was in line for the chop, Gordon Brown's official spokesman told reporters: "She's doing a good job." |
| Ms Blears, speaking in Salford, said the PM had "full confidence in me". | |
| Ms Blears' expenses were among the first to be highlighted in the Daily Telegraph's report. | Ms Blears' expenses were among the first to be highlighted in the Daily Telegraph's report. |
| Ms Blears subsequently admitted not paying capital gains tax on the profit from selling a flat repaired with taxpayers' money and has agreed to repay £13,332. | Ms Blears subsequently admitted not paying capital gains tax on the profit from selling a flat repaired with taxpayers' money and has agreed to repay £13,332. |
| Angry and appalled | Angry and appalled |
| The Salford MP also changed the property she designated as her "second home" with the Commons fees office twice in one year. | The Salford MP also changed the property she designated as her "second home" with the Commons fees office twice in one year. |
| She has insisted that the arrangements were approved by the fees office and were within the rules as they stood. | She has insisted that the arrangements were approved by the fees office and were within the rules as they stood. |
| But speaking in her constituency, she admitted: "I also recognise that acting within the rules does not cut it with the public and that is why I paid the money. | But speaking in her constituency, she admitted: "I also recognise that acting within the rules does not cut it with the public and that is why I paid the money. |
| I am the only party leader in these last few weeks to have actually suspended and asked people to step down. If it became necessary to do so for other people, I will not resile from doing so Gordon Brown | I am the only party leader in these last few weeks to have actually suspended and asked people to step down. If it became necessary to do so for other people, I will not resile from doing so Gordon Brown |
| "People obviously are angry, not just here in Salford, they are angry across the country." | "People obviously are angry, not just here in Salford, they are angry across the country." |
| Ms Blears insisted that voters in Salford "know the person I am". | Ms Blears insisted that voters in Salford "know the person I am". |
| But as she addressed reporters, one of her constituents, Brian Roberts, heckled that she was a "cheat" and a "swindler". | But as she addressed reporters, one of her constituents, Brian Roberts, heckled that she was a "cheat" and a "swindler". |
| Mr Brown was asked about her future at a press conference on Tuesday and told reporters: "Hazel Blears has paid the money back. She has done so on the advice of me and others. | Mr Brown was asked about her future at a press conference on Tuesday and told reporters: "Hazel Blears has paid the money back. She has done so on the advice of me and others. |
| "But she has not broken the law, she has not broken the rules of the House of Commons. | "But she has not broken the law, she has not broken the rules of the House of Commons. |
| "It is unacceptable behaviour and she has accepted it as unacceptable behaviour." | "It is unacceptable behaviour and she has accepted it as unacceptable behaviour." |
| Dry rot claim | Dry rot claim |
| And then in a GMTV interview on Wednesday, in which he said he was "angry" and "appalled" about some of the expenses revelations, he was questioned again on her future. | And then in a GMTV interview on Wednesday, in which he said he was "angry" and "appalled" about some of the expenses revelations, he was questioned again on her future. |
| He said: "I am the only party leader in these last few weeks to have actually suspended and asked people to step down. | He said: "I am the only party leader in these last few weeks to have actually suspended and asked people to step down. |
| "If it became necessary to do so for other people, I will not resile from doing so. We will take all the action that is necessary." | "If it became necessary to do so for other people, I will not resile from doing so. We will take all the action that is necessary." |
| Gordon Brown: What Hazel Blears did was unacceptable. Clip courtesy of GMTV | Gordon Brown: What Hazel Blears did was unacceptable. Clip courtesy of GMTV |
| Pushed further on whether she would keep her job, Mr Brown made reference to a review of all MPs' claims made over the past four years. | Pushed further on whether she would keep her job, Mr Brown made reference to a review of all MPs' claims made over the past four years. |
| He said: "At the moment Hazel Blears has made her apologies, she has returned her money, she is the minister for communities. | He said: "At the moment Hazel Blears has made her apologies, she has returned her money, she is the minister for communities. |
| "We have a further investigation. If it proves anything then we will have to take action." | "We have a further investigation. If it proves anything then we will have to take action." |
| At the press conference on Tuesday Mr Brown also cast serious doubt on the future of government whip Margaret Moran as an MP, describing her expenses claims as "completely unacceptable". | At the press conference on Tuesday Mr Brown also cast serious doubt on the future of government whip Margaret Moran as an MP, describing her expenses claims as "completely unacceptable". |
| The Luton South MP is already under investigation after spending £22,000 to pay for dry rot treatment at her partner's home in Southampton. | The Luton South MP is already under investigation after spending £22,000 to pay for dry rot treatment at her partner's home in Southampton. |
| She has agreed to repay the money and has been backed by her local party. | She has agreed to repay the money and has been backed by her local party. |
| But Mr Brown said any Labour MP found to have "defied the rules" will not be allowed to stand at the next election. | But Mr Brown said any Labour MP found to have "defied the rules" will not be allowed to stand at the next election. |
| Mr Brown said an internal party investigation was under way into the Luton South MP, adding: "The behaviour - no, it's completely unacceptable. | Mr Brown said an internal party investigation was under way into the Luton South MP, adding: "The behaviour - no, it's completely unacceptable. |
| "The question will be debated by us as a party. The behaviour we are talking about is completely unacceptable. There's got to be a process of examining the evidence and coming to a conclusion." | "The question will be debated by us as a party. The behaviour we are talking about is completely unacceptable. There's got to be a process of examining the evidence and coming to a conclusion." |
| The TV presenter Esther Rantzen is threatening to stand against Mrs Moran at the next general election as an anti-sleaze candidate. | The TV presenter Esther Rantzen is threatening to stand against Mrs Moran at the next general election as an anti-sleaze candidate. |
| On Tuesday Mr Brown said he was committed to a "complete clean-up of the system". | On Tuesday Mr Brown said he was committed to a "complete clean-up of the system". |
| He added: "No minister will be in the cabinet or in the government in future if it is proven that they defied the rules." | He added: "No minister will be in the cabinet or in the government in future if it is proven that they defied the rules." |
| In a joint statement, Cath Speight, chair of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee and Ray Collins, the party's general secretary, said the NEC fully supported the prime minister. | In a joint statement, Cath Speight, chair of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee and Ray Collins, the party's general secretary, said the NEC fully supported the prime minister. |
| An NEC panel would be set up to interview MPs who were the subject of allegations, they said. | An NEC panel would be set up to interview MPs who were the subject of allegations, they said. |
| This will have the power to recommend to the NEC that MPs should not stand for the Commons under the Labour banner. | This will have the power to recommend to the NEC that MPs should not stand for the Commons under the Labour banner. |