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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour MPs' future under review | Labour MPs' future under review |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labour's disciplinary panel is due to discuss whether MPs under fire for expenses claims can seek re-election. | Labour's disciplinary panel is due to discuss whether MPs under fire for expenses claims can seek re-election. |
| It will decide if Margaret Moran, Elliot Morley, Ian Gibson and David Chaytor can stand again for Labour. | It will decide if Margaret Moran, Elliot Morley, Ian Gibson and David Chaytor can stand again for Labour. |
| But it is not expected that the three member so-called "star chamber" will make a ruling at its first meeting. | But it is not expected that the three member so-called "star chamber" will make a ruling at its first meeting. |
| Fresh reports in the Daily Telegraph suggest MPs broke the law by not paying tax on personal accounting, but Labour says MPs "honoured" their liabilities. | Fresh reports in the Daily Telegraph suggest MPs broke the law by not paying tax on personal accounting, but Labour says MPs "honoured" their liabilities. |
| On the 20th day of allegations about MPs' expenses detailed in the newspaper, it reported that nine cabinet ministers and 30 junior ministers used allowances meant for the running of their offices to pay for personal tax advice. | On the 20th day of allegations about MPs' expenses detailed in the newspaper, it reported that nine cabinet ministers and 30 junior ministers used allowances meant for the running of their offices to pay for personal tax advice. |
| HM Revenue and Customs is understood to be reviewing MPs' claims as part of its general policy of "policing the tax rules... effectively across the board". | |
| The Telegraph, which has obtained the expenses claims of all 646 MPs, also revealed that Tory MP for Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, Julie Kirkbride, pays her sister a £12,000 salary for part-time clerical work - even though she lives more than 100 miles away from the constituency in Dorset. | The Telegraph, which has obtained the expenses claims of all 646 MPs, also revealed that Tory MP for Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, Julie Kirkbride, pays her sister a £12,000 salary for part-time clerical work - even though she lives more than 100 miles away from the constituency in Dorset. |
| In addition, it suggested that John Greenway, Tory MP for Ryedale, North Yorkshire, claimed £500 for petunias and fuchsia for his London flat. | In addition, it suggested that John Greenway, Tory MP for Ryedale, North Yorkshire, claimed £500 for petunias and fuchsia for his London flat. |
| Later date | Later date |
| Labour's three-member disciplinary panel was set up by the party's ruling National Executive Committee to quiz MPs whose claims have been scrutinised. | Labour's three-member disciplinary panel was set up by the party's ruling National Executive Committee to quiz MPs whose claims have been scrutinised. |
| The Conservatives have also set up an internal scrutiny panel to rule on MPs' expenses claims. | The Conservatives have also set up an internal scrutiny panel to rule on MPs' expenses claims. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said any Labour MP who "defied" the rules will not be able to stand again. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said any Labour MP who "defied" the rules will not be able to stand again. |
| In its first meeting, the panel of senior NEC members - Cath Speight, Ann Black and Sir Jeremy Beecham - will begin considering the allegations against the MPs who have been referred to it. | In its first meeting, the panel of senior NEC members - Cath Speight, Ann Black and Sir Jeremy Beecham - will begin considering the allegations against the MPs who have been referred to it. |
| Former Labour Party secretary David Gardner says the public are tired of the expression "within the rules" | Former Labour Party secretary David Gardner says the public are tired of the expression "within the rules" |
| Mr Morley, MP for Scunthorpe and an ex-environment minister, claimed £16,000 in interest payments on a mortgage that had already been paid off. | Mr Morley, MP for Scunthorpe and an ex-environment minister, claimed £16,000 in interest payments on a mortgage that had already been paid off. |
| He has apologised and said he repaid all of the money once he had discovered his mistake, but Mr Brown has suspended Mr Morley from the Parliamentary Labour Party and also suspended the Labour whip from him. | He has apologised and said he repaid all of the money once he had discovered his mistake, but Mr Brown has suspended Mr Morley from the Parliamentary Labour Party and also suspended the Labour whip from him. |
| According to the Telegraph, Ms Moran - the Labour MP for Luton South - spent £22,500 treating dry rot at the coastal property in Southampton she had designated as her second home, even though it was a two-hour drive from Parliament and 100 miles from her constituency. | According to the Telegraph, Ms Moran - the Labour MP for Luton South - spent £22,500 treating dry rot at the coastal property in Southampton she had designated as her second home, even though it was a two-hour drive from Parliament and 100 miles from her constituency. |
| Ms Moran has said she will pay the money back, but said she had stuck to the rules and acted in consultation with the Commons fees office. | Ms Moran has said she will pay the money back, but said she had stuck to the rules and acted in consultation with the Commons fees office. |
| The Daily Telegraph said 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. | The Daily Telegraph said 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 insisted he acted within the rules but has offered to stand down at the next election if his constituents want him to. | Dr Gibson has insisted he acted within the rules but has offered to stand down at the next election if his constituents want him to. |
| The case of Mr Chaytor will be considered by the panel at a later date. | The case of Mr Chaytor will be considered by the panel at a later date. |
| The Telegraph said the MP for Bury North claimed nearly £13,000 for a mortgage he had already cleared. | The Telegraph said the MP for Bury North claimed nearly £13,000 for a mortgage he had already cleared. |
| Mr Chaytor has apologised "unreservedly" for what had been "an unforgivable error in accounting procedures" and said he would arrange repayment to the Commons fees office immediately. | Mr Chaytor has apologised "unreservedly" for what had been "an unforgivable error in accounting procedures" and said he would arrange repayment to the Commons fees office immediately. |
| 'Confused' reply | 'Confused' reply |
| In its latest revelations, the Daily Telegraph said that more than 40 government ministers were reimbursed a total of at least £25,000 for help with tax returns - but the paper said such fees were not tax-deductible. | In its latest revelations, the Daily Telegraph said that more than 40 government ministers were reimbursed a total of at least £25,000 for help with tax returns - but the paper said such fees were not tax-deductible. |
| It is unclear whether the MPs later paid any tax due, although Chancellor Alistair Darling said he had. | It is unclear whether the MPs later paid any tax due, although Chancellor Alistair Darling said he had. |
| The costs of complying with the law are not an allowable expense against tax Revenue and Customs spokesman | The costs of complying with the law are not an allowable expense against tax Revenue and Customs spokesman |
| The paper said MPs had been given specific guidance from the taxman in 2005 that advice on self-assessment tax returns could not be regarded as a tax-free expense and were in effect a "benefit in kind". | The paper said MPs had been given specific guidance from the taxman in 2005 that advice on self-assessment tax returns could not be regarded as a tax-free expense and were in effect a "benefit in kind". |
| A Revenue and Customs spokesman told the BBC that it was a "general principle of tax law" that accountancy fees connected with personal tax returns were not deductible. | A Revenue and Customs spokesman told the BBC that it was a "general principle of tax law" that accountancy fees connected with personal tax returns were not deductible. |
| "This is because the costs of complying with the law are not an allowable expense against tax," the spokesman added. "This rule applies across the board." | "This is because the costs of complying with the law are not an allowable expense against tax," the spokesman added. "This rule applies across the board." |
| Cabinet ministers named by the Telegraph included Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, who said she did not have the relevant papers to hand to say what tax she paid. | Cabinet ministers named by the Telegraph included Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, who said she did not have the relevant papers to hand to say what tax she paid. |
| Labour MPs have argued that tax advice relating to their work is a legitimate expense but the Tories say this is "completely wrong" and that any of the party's MPs charging the taxpayer for this will have to repay the money. | Labour MPs have argued that tax advice relating to their work is a legitimate expense but the Tories say this is "completely wrong" and that any of the party's MPs charging the taxpayer for this will have to repay the money. |
| A statement issued by the Labour Party, on behalf of the MPs named by the Telegraph, said: "To the best of my knowledge I am satisfied that I have honoured all my tax liabilities and will continue to do so." | A statement issued by the Labour Party, on behalf of the MPs named by the Telegraph, said: "To the best of my knowledge I am satisfied that I have honoured all my tax liabilities and will continue to do so." |
| On Wednesday Downing Street said: "To the best of our knowledge, ministers do appear to have honoured their tax liabilities and will continue to do so. | |
| "Obviously, we are in the process of checking whether ministers who are in this position are paying the tax that is due. We will obviously be making it clear to ministers that if there is any tax that has not been paid, it should be paid." |