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Kirkbride faces expenses pressure Kirkbride faces her constituents
(about 14 hours later)
Julie Kirkbride has defended her use of public money amid fresh controversy about her expenses claims and said she wanted to stay on as a Conservative MP. Julie Kirkbride has taken the fight for her political future to the doorsteps of her Bromsgrove constituency in the wake of fresh expenses controversy.
Her decision to re-mortgage her second home by £50,000 - to fund an extension there - and claim for higher interest payments was in order, she said. Her decision to re-mortgage her second home by £50,000 to fund an extension to it and claim for higher interest payments was in order, she said.
She said she needed an extra bedroom so her eight-year old son did not have to share a room with her brother.She said she needed an extra bedroom so her eight-year old son did not have to share a room with her brother.
Earlier she had defended the fact her brother lives there rent-free. Earlier, she had defended the fact that her brother lived there rent-free.
The Bromsgrove MP said she "understood" public anger about her expenses but said she had provided an "effective" service to constituents and wanted to be re-elected despite 5,000 constituents signing a petition calling for her to quit. The MP said she "understood" public anger about her expenses but said she had provided an "effective" service to constituents and wanted to be re-elected despite more than 4,000 constituents signing a petition calling for her to quit.
She told the BBC that she "bitterly regretted" not questioning her husband Andrew MacKay - the Tory MP for Bracknell who will stand down at the next election following controversy over his own claims - about advice he offered on expenses.
Conservative leader David Cameron has said he was pleased that Ms Kirkbride was "out there explaining why she did what she did".
Public angerPublic anger
In a series of interviews on Wednesday, she confirmed her 59-year old brother Ian lived rent free in her Redditch flat some of the time and helped look after her son Angus, enabling her to attend constituency events in the evening. Ms Kirkbride confirmed her 59-year old brother Ian lived rent-free in her Redditch flat some of the time and helped look after her son Angus, enabling her to attend constituency events in the evening.
She also defended increasing her mortgage last year to fund an extension to the flat, which saw the amount she claimed in monthly mortgage interest payments rise to £1,171.She also defended increasing her mortgage last year to fund an extension to the flat, which saw the amount she claimed in monthly mortgage interest payments rise to £1,171.
The Daily Telegraph, which has obtained the expenses details of all 646 MPs, publish further details of her mortgage arrangements on Thursday. The Daily Telegraph, which has obtained the expenses details of all 646 MPs, published further details of her mortgage arrangements on Thursday.
In a letter to the Fees Office last June about her mortgage, she stated: "The extended mortgage was taken out to pay for the building of an extra bedroom at our property, accommodating the needs of our growing family. It didn't cross my mind that I had done anything wrong Julie Kirkbride class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8071163.stm">Tory MP to repay 'staff costs' class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8069720.stm">Labour MPs' future under review
I don't think my arrangements are wrong or against the rules Julie Kirkbride class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8069720.stm">Labour MPs' future under review Ms Kirkbride said it was "inappropriate" that her son should continue to share a room with her brother.
"I trust this is all in order."
On Wednesday, Ms Kirkbride said it was "inappropriate" her son should continue to share a room with her brother as the boy grew older and her actions were "entirely in accordance" with the rules.
The alternative, she insisted, would have been to move to a larger house which would have cost the taxpayer more.The alternative, she insisted, would have been to move to a larger house which would have cost the taxpayer more.
Under the rules which governed expenses at the time, MPs could claim for essential maintenance and alternations required for family reasons but not for modifications or improvements designed to increase the value of their property. She told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I understand people are angry about the way MPs' expenses operate, it is very hard to defend and I can understand why questions are being raised.
"But until this week's furore, it didn't cross my mind that I had done anything wrong."
Under the rules which governed expenses at the time, MPs could claim for essential maintenance and alterations required for family reasons but not for modifications or improvements designed to increase the value of their property.
Ms Kirkbride has faced a stream of allegations about her expenses and family arrangements in recent days.Ms Kirkbride has faced a stream of allegations about her expenses and family arrangements in recent days.
Ms Kirkbride's husband - Tory MP for Bracknell Andrew MacKay - has already quit as an aide to Tory leader David Cameron and announced he will be standing down as an MP, after revelations about the couple's second home allowances. Her husband Mr MacKay has already quit as an aide to Tory leader David Cameron and announced he will be standing down as an MP, after revelations about the couple's second home allowances.
Mr Mackay claimed the second homes allowance on the couple's London flat which Ms Kirkbride declared as her main residence.Mr Mackay claimed the second homes allowance on the couple's London flat which Ms Kirkbride declared as her main residence.
Ms Kirkbride said both she and her husband regretted following advice from the Commons fees office but her arrangement was "quite different" to that of her husband, as she had been a "new MP" at the time it was agreed by the Commons authorities.Ms Kirkbride said both she and her husband regretted following advice from the Commons fees office but her arrangement was "quite different" to that of her husband, as she had been a "new MP" at the time it was agreed by the Commons authorities.
"I deserve to be judged on the merits of what I did and the forms I signed," she said.
On Wednesday, she admitted "it might appear strange" that her sister Karen worked as her secretary 140 miles from her constituency but stressed it was an arrangement that had worked "incredibly well" and her sister had done a "fantastic job".On Wednesday, she admitted "it might appear strange" that her sister Karen worked as her secretary 140 miles from her constituency but stressed it was an arrangement that had worked "incredibly well" and her sister had done a "fantastic job".
'No secret' Family commitments
Asked if she would now be changing the way she ran her office, she said: "I don't think my arrangements are wrong or against the rules. They are ones that make it easier for me to do my job."
She said she would abide by the ruling of the Conservatives' scrutiny panel if it ordered her to pay the money back, and would stand down as an MP if David Cameron asked her to do so.She said she would abide by the ruling of the Conservatives' scrutiny panel if it ordered her to pay the money back, and would stand down as an MP if David Cameron asked her to do so.
But asked about the MP's position, Mr Cameron said she was "giving a good account of herself".But asked about the MP's position, Mr Cameron said she was "giving a good account of herself".
Ms Kirkbride said it was no secret that her sister, a former bank branch manager, worked for her, and it had been registered and her salary approved by the Commons authorities. Writing in the Times on Thursday, the MP expressed concern that the row over her expenses might discourage other mothers from becoming MPs.
"The fact is that Karen does an absolutely fantastic job for my constituents", she told the BBC News Channel. Ms Kirkbride has said it is up to her local party to decide whether she stands at the next election.
I think that Julie is out there explaining why she did what she did David Cameron, Conservative leader She will spend the weekend talking to voters but will not be attending a meeting organised by her constituents owing to family commitments.
Many people, including "lots of MPs", worked remotely and "whilst it might appear strange that she is 140 miles away, in actual fact it works," she added. Public funds
She said it was up to her local party to decide whether she stood at the next election. Mr Cameron said explaining her expenses to voters in Bomsgrove was "the right thing to do".
She said she would be going out on the doorstep at the weekend to talk to voters but would not be attending a meeting on Saturday organised by her constituents due to family commitments. Sources close to the Tory leader say he believes she should be given a "fair" chance to clear her name.
Tory leader David Cameron said he was pleased that Ms Kirkbride was "out there explaining why she did what she did". He is also satisfied with her decision not to attend a meeting on Sunday of the Julie Must Go! campaign. There is a view in Tory circles that this group does not genuinely reflect public opinion in Bromsgrove.
"She'll also be doing that in her constituency as well and that's the right thing to do," he said. Tory MP rejects 'staff quarters' claims
Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has vowed to take a "strong line" against Labour MPs who abused the parliamentary expenses system as an internal party panel met for the first time to consider whether four MPs criticised over their conduct should be able to stand at the next election. But BBC reporter Bob Walker said: "It's hardly a scientific poll, but on the streets of Bromsgrove it's hard to find many people who fully support their MP."
Meanwhile Tory MP Sir John Butterfill has agreed to repay £20,000 in tax and mortgage payments, much of which was claimed from public funds towards staff quarters in his home.
Asked on BBC's Newsnight whether he believed he had done anything morally wrong, Sir John, MP for Bournemouth West, said: "I don't think it is unacceptable because I think that I've been misrepresented in what I did."