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Tory MP claimed £500 for petunias MP's sister works from 100 miles
(about 3 hours later)
A Conservative MP has defended claiming £500 for petunias and fuchsia for his London flat, in the latest Daily Telegraph expenses claim leak. Tory MP Julie Kirkbride pays her sister £12,000 a year for clerical work - even though she lives more than 100 miles from her constituency, it has emerged.
The paper said John Greenway, the MP for Ryedale, North Yorks, claimed items for a flat later sold for a big profit. The MP for Bromsgrove, Worcs, employs Karen Leadley, who lives in Dorset, part-time, the Daily Telegraph said.
Mr Greenway said he paid capital gains tax on the flat sale and all his claims were made in good faith and approved. Ms Kirkbride said her sister carries out work using a computer which is networked to her constituency office.
Separately, Telegraph journalist Simon Heffer said he may stand against Tory MP Sir Alan Haselhurst at the election. Her Bracknell MP husband Andrew MacKay has already been forced to stand down after revelations about his expenses.
Possible challenge He quit as David Cameron's aide after it became known he had claimed £23,000 a year in second home expenses on his London address, despite not having a property in his Berkshire constituency.
Mr Heffer said he would consider opposing Sir Alan, MP for Saffron Walden, unless he repaid £12,000 in public money he reportedly claimed for gardening work at his country house. The Telegraph's latest revelations about MPs' expense claims include suggestions that ministers may have to repay tax after reclaiming the costs of accountants to help them complete personal tax returns.
If Sir Alan thinks I am joking, I warn him I am not Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph journalistIf Sir Alan thinks I am joking, I warn him I am not Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph journalist
Sir Alan should admit his error and apologise for making the claims, Mr Heffer said, or he would stand against the longstanding MP as an independent. It also says Conservative MP John Greenway was reimbursed £500 for petunias and fuchsia he bought for his London flat, while columnist Simon Heffer said he may stand against another Tory MP Sir Alan Haselhurst - who claimed £12,000 for gardening - at the next election.
Answering claims about her expenses, Ms Kirkbride insisted she had done nothing wrong.
She said the employment of her sister had been registered for some time and that she was a popular member of staff.
"She lives in Wimborne, Dorset, but she has a computer which is networked to my constituency office and London office," said the MP.
"She carries out tasks on a regular basis but her principal job is to do constituency correspondence during the parliamentary recess."
Ms Kirkbride added that her brother Ian had used £1,000 from her parliamentary office expense account to buy electrical equipment because he sourced items for the best price on the internet.
Toilet brush
According to the Telegraph, plants claimed by Mr Greenway - the MP for Ryedale, North Yorkshire - were among items for a flat later sold for a £282,000 profit.
These included £3,500 in household goods and furnishings, £1,900 on redecorating the hall, kitchen, bathroom and stairs in 2004-5 and 2005-6, as well as £24 for a lavatory brush and 59p for a box of matches.
Mr Greenway said he paid capital gains tax on the flat sale and all his claims were made in good faith and approved.
Separately, Telegraph journalist Simon Heffer said he would consider opposing Sir Alan, MP for Saffron Walden, unless he repaid £12,000 in public money he reportedly claimed for gardening work at his country house.
The longstanding MP should admit his error and apologise for making the claims, Mr Heffer said, or he would stand against him as an independent.
Sir Alan is currently Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and a candidate to replace outgoing Speaker Michael Martin.Sir Alan is currently Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and a candidate to replace outgoing Speaker Michael Martin.
"If Sir Alan thinks I am joking, I warn him I am not," Mr Heffer, an associate editor and columnist, wrote in the paper."If Sir Alan thinks I am joking, I warn him I am not," Mr Heffer, an associate editor and columnist, wrote in the paper.
"I have backers and volunteers.""I have backers and volunteers."
Inappropriate
Sir Alan has issued a statement saying he would this week repay the £12,000 "out of respect" for constituents, according to his local newspaper, the Cambridge Evening News.Sir Alan has issued a statement saying he would this week repay the £12,000 "out of respect" for constituents, according to his local newspaper, the Cambridge Evening News.
He had previously said his claims were within the rules but acknowledged the public had a right to question them.He had previously said his claims were within the rules but acknowledged the public had a right to question them.
A host of Conservatives and MPs from other parties have agreed to repay thousands of pounds towards the cost of claims made between 2004 and 2008 which although approved at the time, are now accepted to have been inappropriate.A host of Conservatives and MPs from other parties have agreed to repay thousands of pounds towards the cost of claims made between 2004 and 2008 which although approved at the time, are now accepted to have been inappropriate.
A clutch of Conservative MPs have been forced to stand down at the next election after being criticised for their use of taxpayers' money in claiming expenses. Some Tories have been forced to stand down at the next election after being criticised for their use of taxpayers' money in claiming expenses.
Labour hearings
Four Labour MPs have been told they have to appear before a party disciplinary panel to explain their conduct over their expenses or face losing Labour support at the next election.Four Labour MPs have been told they have to appear before a party disciplinary panel to explain their conduct over their expenses or face losing Labour support at the next election.
Elliot Morley and Margaret Moran had been due to appear before the National Executive Committee's special endorsements panel on Tuesday although it is not clear whether either will be able to attend. Elliot Morley and Margaret Moran had been due to appear before the National Executive Committee's special endorsements panel on Tuesday although it is not clear whether either attended.
According to the latest revelations in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Greenway used his second home allowance to claim for £3,500 in household goods and furnishings.
It said he claimed for £1,900 on redecorating the hall, kitchen, bathroom and stairs in 2004-5 and 2005-6 as well as £500 on pot plants and, among other items, £24 for a lavatory brush and 59p for a box of matches.
Parliamentary rules state that MPs can only claim for garden maintenance.
It said Mr Greenway and his wife bought the property for £211,000, selling it for £493,000 for 2006.
As well as paying capital gains tax, Mr Greenway said he did not claim for any moving or stamp duty costs in relation to the sale.
He told the newspaper that, in his 22 years in Parliament, he had made all his claims in "good faith" and that they had all been approved by the Commons authorities.
The redecoration was needed to address normal wear and tear in the property while Mr Greenway said his spending in his second home was on a par with that in his main residence.