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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Rantzen confirms MP decision | Rantzen confirms MP decision |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Television presenter Esther Rantzen has confirmed to the BBC that she will stand as an MP for Luton South, but only if the present MP stands. | Television presenter Esther Rantzen has confirmed to the BBC that she will stand as an MP for Luton South, but only if the present MP stands. |
| Ms Rantzen visited the Bedfordshire town last Tuesday saying she was "sick" of the MPs' expenses scandal and was thinking of standing as an independent. | Ms Rantzen visited the Bedfordshire town last Tuesday saying she was "sick" of the MPs' expenses scandal and was thinking of standing as an independent. |
| Her move followed revelations on the expenses of Labour's Luton South MP Margaret Moran in the Daily Telegraph. | |
| Ms Rantzen has now said she will "definitely" stand against Ms Moran. | Ms Rantzen has now said she will "definitely" stand against Ms Moran. |
| The sitting MP was said to have claimed £22,500 for a second home 100 miles from Luton. | The sitting MP was said to have claimed £22,500 for a second home 100 miles from Luton. |
| She initially defended the claim for dry rot at her Southampton home - but has now repaid the claims. | She initially defended the claim for dry rot at her Southampton home - but has now repaid the claims. |
| Ms Moran said the Commons fees office had approved the claims for the home in the city where her partner had worked for 20 years and said she could not "have a proper family life... unless I share the costs of the Southampton home". | Ms Moran said the Commons fees office had approved the claims for the home in the city where her partner had worked for 20 years and said she could not "have a proper family life... unless I share the costs of the Southampton home". |
| Speaking on BBC Three Counties Radio on Tuesday, Ms Rantzen said: "If Margaret Moran stays the MP for Luton and stands at the next election I will definitely stand against her." | Speaking on BBC Three Counties Radio on Tuesday, Ms Rantzen said: "If Margaret Moran stays the MP for Luton and stands at the next election I will definitely stand against her." |
| Ms Rantzen last week said that Ms Moran's claims had made her "angry". | Ms Rantzen last week said that Ms Moran's claims had made her "angry". |