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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ministers 'in tax advice claims' | Ministers 'in tax advice claims' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Alistair Darling is among nine cabinet members who used taxpayers' money to pay for personal accountancy advice, the Daily Telegraph has claimed. | Alistair Darling is among nine cabinet members who used taxpayers' money to pay for personal accountancy advice, the Daily Telegraph has claimed. |
| The paper alleges ministers used a total of £11,000 meant for office costs to pay for tax return processing. | The paper alleges ministers used a total of £11,000 meant for office costs to pay for tax return processing. |
| It says HM Revenue & Customs says this is not normally a business expense. | It says HM Revenue & Customs says this is not normally a business expense. |
| The chancellor said he had paid an accountant to prepare tax returns "to ensure... the correct amount of tax was paid in respect of my office costs". | The chancellor said he had paid an accountant to prepare tax returns "to ensure... the correct amount of tax was paid in respect of my office costs". |
| Responding to Sunday night's Telegraph claims, a Labour source told the BBC: "The fees office green book - which sets out the rules and advice on behalf of the parliamentary authorities - states specifically that professional advice, for example from accountants or solicitors, is an allowable expense. | Responding to Sunday night's Telegraph claims, a Labour source told the BBC: "The fees office green book - which sets out the rules and advice on behalf of the parliamentary authorities - states specifically that professional advice, for example from accountants or solicitors, is an allowable expense. |
| 'All to blame' | |
| "In order that MPs comply fully with all the relevant requirements relating to tax, and to ensure they are properly meeting all their tax liabilities, many rightly seek professional assistance and advice where this relates specifically to their role as members of Parliament." | "In order that MPs comply fully with all the relevant requirements relating to tax, and to ensure they are properly meeting all their tax liabilities, many rightly seek professional assistance and advice where this relates specifically to their role as members of Parliament." |
| On Sunday, Mr Darling told BBC One's The Politics Show that all MPs had an obligation to shoulder responsibility for not reforming the expenses system when earlier opportunities arose. | |
| The chancellor said: "There is no doubt that the House of Commons rules got out of control and, frankly, everyone of us, me included, have to take responsibility for that. | The chancellor said: "There is no doubt that the House of Commons rules got out of control and, frankly, everyone of us, me included, have to take responsibility for that. |
| I was incensed when I heard his cynical attempt to displace responsibility for his own behaviour Vince CableLib Dem economics spokesman | |
| "Every time these things came up for review we just looked the other way." | "Every time these things came up for review we just looked the other way." |
| But Liberal Democrat economics spokesman Vince Cable attacked Mr Darling for trying to dodge personal responsibility for his expenses claims. | |
| Mr Cable said the chancellor should not "try and tar all MPs with the same brush". | |
| "I have never previously attacked Alistair Darling personally, whatever our political disagreements, but I was incensed when I heard his cynical attempt to displace responsibility for his own behaviour on other MPs," he added. | |
| "Many of us have spent years trying to change the system but we've been blocked many times, not least by the Labour government. | |
| "Alistair Darling must be prepared to take some personal responsibility." |