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Labour MP may be forced to quit | Labour MP may be forced to quit |
(about 6 hours later) | |
MP Ian Gibson has been referred to a panel which could remove his right to stand as a Labour candidate following reports about his expenses. | MP Ian Gibson has been referred to a panel which could remove his right to stand as a Labour candidate following reports about his expenses. |
The Daily Telegraph says Dr Gibson claimed for a flat which his daughter and her partner lived in rent-free. | |
It also claimed the Norwich North MP then sold it to them for less than he paid and well below market value. | |
Dr Gibson has offered to step down if voters want it. The panel will also probe claims by three other Labour MPs. | |
The cases of Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Margaret Moran will all go before it following reports in the Telegraph about their allowances. | The cases of Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Margaret Moran will all go before it following reports in the Telegraph about their allowances. |
'Too far' | |
A spokesman for the party said Dr Gibson had been referred to its National Executive Committee "star chamber" endorsement panel for "urgent consideration". | |
The panel will rule on "whether to remove Ian Gibson's endorsement to stand for election as a Labour Party candidate", the spokesman added. | The panel will rule on "whether to remove Ian Gibson's endorsement to stand for election as a Labour Party candidate", the spokesman added. |
I don't mind being beaten in an election, which is a possibility Ian Gibson class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8062786.stm">MP sorry for 'jealousy' outburst class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8063005.stm">MP's fears of expenses 'suicide' | |
The Daily Telegraph - which is releasing leaked details of all MPs' expense claims - reported that Dr Gibson had claimed for mortgage interest, council tax and utility bills for the flat in west London. | |
Dr Gibson has insisted he acted within the rules and "made nothing on the house whatsoever". | |
But he said he could understand why members of the public might think his arrangements were "unfair". | |
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 don't mind being beaten in an election, which is a possibility. I'm quite happy to step down, too, if the constituents find it one step too far." | |
Fresh revelations | |
The newly-created panel is already looking into the cases of Mr Morley, Mr Chaytor and Luton South MP Margaret Moran, who has agreed to pay back £20,000 claimed for treating dry rot at a house in Southampton. | |
Mr Morley and Mr Chaytor have both been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party over claims that they received allowances for mortgages which had already been paid off. | |
Three Conservative MPs and one Labour MP have confirmed they will stand down at the next general election following reports about their expenses. | |
One of the Tories set to step down, Anthony Steen, has apologised for a BBC interview in which he said critics of his expenses claims were simply "jealous" of his country house. | |
Following other fresh revelations in the Daily Telegraph, Tory MP Peter Luff has also said he believes he kept to the rules, after reportedly claiming £17,000 on home items over four years. | |
Tory MP Nadine Dorries has warned MPs fear a suicide as a result of the "unbearable" atmosphere in Westminster. |
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