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Mortgage claim MP will stand down Mortgage claim MP will stand down
(19 minutes later)
Labour MP Ben Chapman has said he will stand down at the next general election following reports he over-claimed mortgage interest on his second home.Labour MP Ben Chapman has said he will stand down at the next general election following reports he over-claimed mortgage interest on his second home.
Mr Chapman, MP for Wirral South, maintained he had done nothing wrong in a statement announcing his decision.Mr Chapman, MP for Wirral South, maintained he had done nothing wrong in a statement announcing his decision.
But he said the story in the Daily Telegraph had been hurtful to his family, friends and supporters. But he said the story in the Daily Telegraph had been "hurtful" to his family, friends and supporters.
The paper said he was allowed to claim interest on his home loan's full value despite paying off £295,000 in 2002.
He is the first Labour MP to say he will stand down over the row. Three Tory MPs have said they will do so.He is the first Labour MP to say he will stand down over the row. Three Tory MPs have said they will do so.
Offered apologiesOffered apologies
The Telegraph reported that the MP sought and was given permission to reclaim the interest payments on the full value of his mortgage, despite paying off £295,000 of the loan in 2002. The Telegraph reported that the MP sought and was given permission to reclaim the interest payments on the full value of his mortgage after 2002.
Mr Chapman reportedly continued to receive £15,000 over 10 months for the interest part of the mortgage which he no longer paid.Mr Chapman reportedly continued to receive £15,000 over 10 months for the interest part of the mortgage which he no longer paid.
He insisted the House of Commons fees office had offered apologies that advice they gave him was incorrect. I maintain that I have done nothing wrong and have acted in good faith and with absolute transparency throughout Ben Chapman MP class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8062303.stm">Brown defends ministers over tax class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8060563.stm">'Duck island' claim MP to retire
He insisted the House of Commons fees office had offered him "apologies and regret" for offering him incorrect advice.
Mr Chapman added: "I maintain that I have done nothing wrong and have acted in good faith and with absolute transparency throughout.
"But the publicity in the Daily Telegraph, and subsequently elsewhere, has been hurtful to my family, friends and local party members and supporters, and I have therefore decided to stand down at the next general election."
The Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) is looking into claims Mr Chapman was given permission to claim the allowances for the mortgage interest.The Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) is looking into claims Mr Chapman was given permission to claim the allowances for the mortgage interest.
Tory MPs Anthony Steen, Douglas Hogg and Sir Peter Viggers have already said they will not stand at the next election after their own expenses claims came under the spotlight.Tory MPs Anthony Steen, Douglas Hogg and Sir Peter Viggers have already said they will not stand at the next election after their own expenses claims came under the spotlight.