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| Voters can demand I go, says MP | Voters can demand I go, says MP |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Labour MP says he will stand down at the next election if his constituents demand it, following allegations over his second home expenses claims. | A Labour MP says he will stand down at the next election if his constituents demand it, following allegations over his second home expenses claims. |
| The Daily Telegraph says Dr Ian Gibson, Norwich North MP, claimed for a London flat while his daughter and her partner lived there rent-free. | The Daily Telegraph says Dr Ian Gibson, Norwich North MP, claimed for a London flat while his daughter and her partner lived there rent-free. |
| Tory MP Peter Luff believes he kept to the rules, after reportedly claiming £17,000 on home items over four years. | |
| Three Tories and one Labour MP are to stand down owing to the expenses row. | |
| Ben Chapman became the first Labour MP to say he would not contest the next general election following allegations that he was reimbursed for a loan that had been paid off. Mr Chapman insists he has done nothing wrong. | Ben Chapman became the first Labour MP to say he would not contest the next general election following allegations that he was reimbursed for a loan that had been paid off. Mr Chapman insists he has done nothing wrong. |
| Three Conservatives, Anthony Steen, Douglas Hogg and Sir Peter Viggers, have also announced their intention to step down after they were criticised for their expenses claims. | Three Conservatives, Anthony Steen, Douglas Hogg and Sir Peter Viggers, have also announced their intention to step down after they were criticised for their expenses claims. |
| MP David Chaytor has been suspended by the Parliamentary Labour Party amid allegations he claimed money for a mortgage he had already paid off, and former farming minister Elliot Morley has also been suspended. | MP David Chaytor has been suspended by the Parliamentary Labour Party amid allegations he claimed money for a mortgage he had already paid off, and former farming minister Elliot Morley has also been suspended. |
| I spend my life working for constituents and would like to continue, but if you have lost their confidence then you have lost their confidence Dr Ian Gibson, Norwich North MP | I spend my life working for constituents and would like to continue, but if you have lost their confidence then you have lost their confidence Dr Ian Gibson, Norwich North MP |
| Among the latest reports on Friday, the Telegraph says Dr Gibson sold the London flat to his daughter and her partner for less than he paid and well below the market value. | Among the latest reports on Friday, the Telegraph says Dr Gibson sold the London flat to his daughter and her partner for less than he paid and well below the market value. |
| He is reported to have sold the flat to them in April for £162,000, despite having bought it for £195,000 in 1999. | He is reported to have sold the flat to them in April for £162,000, despite having bought it for £195,000 in 1999. |
| Dr Gibson has insisted he acted within the rules and "made nothing on the house whatsoever". | Dr Gibson has insisted he acted within the rules and "made nothing on the house whatsoever". |
| But when asked if he would stand down if constituents wanted that to happen, Dr Gibson replied: "Of course you would do that. It's only your constituents who matter. | But when asked if he would stand down if constituents wanted that to happen, Dr Gibson replied: "Of course you would do that. It's only your constituents who matter. |
| "I spend my life working for constituents and would like to continue, but if you have lost their confidence then you have lost their confidence." | "I spend my life working for constituents and would like to continue, but if you have lost their confidence then you have lost their confidence." |
| Household goods | Household goods |
| Mr Luff has also come under scrutiny by the Telegraph, which alleges that he claimed for £17,000 on household goods over four years. | Mr Luff has also come under scrutiny by the Telegraph, which alleges that he claimed for £17,000 on household goods over four years. |
| This included nearly £1,000 for two separate china sets, as well as a request for a £1,583 dining room table which was rejected. | This included nearly £1,000 for two separate china sets, as well as a request for a £1,583 dining room table which was rejected. |
| Mr Luff told the newspaper he believed he had acted within the "letter and spirit of the rules" but would repay any money if his judgement was proved to be wrong. | Mr Luff told the newspaper he believed he had acted within the "letter and spirit of the rules" but would repay any money if his judgement was proved to be wrong. |
| People are constantly checking to see if others are OK. Everyone fears a suicide. If someone isn't seen, offices are called and checked Nadine Dorries, Tory MP | People are constantly checking to see if others are OK. Everyone fears a suicide. If someone isn't seen, offices are called and checked Nadine Dorries, Tory MP |
| The MP for Mid-Worcestershire also told the BBC he was "really appalled" by the allegations. | The MP for Mid-Worcestershire also told the BBC he was "really appalled" by the allegations. |
| "I don't want any sympathy, I don't deserve it I'm sure," he said. | "I don't want any sympathy, I don't deserve it I'm sure," he said. |
| "But, you know, for the first time when I moved to the flat we bought second hand stuff from Worcester. | "But, you know, for the first time when I moved to the flat we bought second hand stuff from Worcester. |
| "My wife ran up curtains herself, we didn't charge any of that. After a few years it started running out, getting tacky, breaking - we replaced it." | "My wife ran up curtains herself, we didn't charge any of that. After a few years it started running out, getting tacky, breaking - we replaced it." |
| Also published in the Telegraph are financial details of the Tory MP for St Albans, Anne Main. | Also published in the Telegraph are financial details of the Tory MP for St Albans, Anne Main. |
| The paper alleges she spent £40,000 on a second home in St Albans, where her daughter Claire lives, about 25 miles from her family's detached main home in Beaconsfield. | The paper alleges she spent £40,000 on a second home in St Albans, where her daughter Claire lives, about 25 miles from her family's detached main home in Beaconsfield. |
| It also claims that public records show Mrs Main's daughter has lived at the property rent-free for up to three years. | It also claims that public records show Mrs Main's daughter has lived at the property rent-free for up to three years. |
| Mrs Main told the paper she had done nothing wrong. | Mrs Main told the paper she had done nothing wrong. |
| 'Unbearable' atmosphere | 'Unbearable' atmosphere |
| A public meeting is to be held in Bracknell later to decide the future of Conservative MP Andrew MacKay. | A public meeting is to be held in Bracknell later to decide the future of Conservative MP Andrew MacKay. |
| He quit as parliamentary aide to David Cameron over what the party said was an "unacceptable" expenses claim. | He quit as parliamentary aide to David Cameron over what the party said was an "unacceptable" expenses claim. |
| The Telegraph reported that he and his wife, fellow Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, had been effectively claiming the second home allowance for mortgage interest payments on two properties - one in London and another in the Midlands. | The Telegraph reported that he and his wife, fellow Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, had been effectively claiming the second home allowance for mortgage interest payments on two properties - one in London and another in the Midlands. |
| Mr Luff says his claims have been misrepresented | Mr Luff says his claims have been misrepresented |
| Mr MacKay is to meet his constituents to explain the situation. | Mr MacKay is to meet his constituents to explain the situation. |
| Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has written in her internet blog that the atmosphere in Westminster amid the current row is "unbearable". | Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has written in her internet blog that the atmosphere in Westminster amid the current row is "unbearable". |
| She said: "People are constantly checking to see if others are OK. Everyone fears a suicide. If someone isn't seen, offices are called and checked." | She said: "People are constantly checking to see if others are OK. Everyone fears a suicide. If someone isn't seen, offices are called and checked." |
| The Telegraph has accused Ms Dorries of spending only free weekends and holidays in the property she calls her main home. It said her claim of £18,000 in rent on the property she designates as her second home was therefore unjustified. | The Telegraph has accused Ms Dorries of spending only free weekends and holidays in the property she calls her main home. It said her claim of £18,000 in rent on the property she designates as her second home was therefore unjustified. |
| The MP for Mid Bedfordshire has refused to clarify publicly what she considers to be her main home, but released a statement on her blog explaining her various living arrangements. | The MP for Mid Bedfordshire has refused to clarify publicly what she considers to be her main home, but released a statement on her blog explaining her various living arrangements. |