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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mandelson fears expenses 'haste' | Mandelson fears expenses 'haste' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Some MPs have been too "hastily" condemned over their expenses, Lord Mandelson has said. | Some MPs have been too "hastily" condemned over their expenses, Lord Mandelson has said. |
| The business secretary called for those facing allegations to be "given the chance to justify their actions". | The business secretary called for those facing allegations to be "given the chance to justify their actions". |
| He made his comments as Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the police should be called in where MPs are accused of defrauding taxpayers. | He made his comments as Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the police should be called in where MPs are accused of defrauding taxpayers. |
| Both Labour and the Tories have set up internal panels to scrutinise claims and rule on their MPs' futures. | Both Labour and the Tories have set up internal panels to scrutinise claims and rule on their MPs' futures. |
| But Mr Clegg, who has seen some of his own MPs come under scrutiny following revelations in the Daily Telegraph, said MPs who have done wrong should be sacked instantly. | But Mr Clegg, who has seen some of his own MPs come under scrutiny following revelations in the Daily Telegraph, said MPs who have done wrong should be sacked instantly. |
| He said: "First MPs make own rules, then they exploit their own rules, now they want to be paid for breaking their own rules. People should have power to sack their MP and sack them now." | He said: "First MPs make own rules, then they exploit their own rules, now they want to be paid for breaking their own rules. People should have power to sack their MP and sack them now." |
| He said the public also wanted to see the police called in where there was a suspicion of fraud. | He said the public also wanted to see the police called in where there was a suspicion of fraud. |
| 'Too hasty' | 'Too hasty' |
| Asked on BBC Radio 5 Live whether he would personally contact the police, Mr Clegg said: "I am not going to start publicly saying that I'm going to start shopping people to the police but I think they should be in the hands of the police because fraud is fraud. | Asked on BBC Radio 5 Live whether he would personally contact the police, Mr Clegg said: "I am not going to start publicly saying that I'm going to start shopping people to the police but I think they should be in the hands of the police because fraud is fraud. |
| Nick Clegg on "shopping" fraudulent MPs | Nick Clegg on "shopping" fraudulent MPs |
| "I travel round the country all the time, people say to me the same thing, 'if we did this at work we'd be either be sent to the police or we'd be out on our ear'. | "I travel round the country all the time, people say to me the same thing, 'if we did this at work we'd be either be sent to the police or we'd be out on our ear'. |
| "And so I think people quite rightly want to see the police involved if there is real criminal fraud and real intent to defraud the taxpayer." | "And so I think people quite rightly want to see the police involved if there is real criminal fraud and real intent to defraud the taxpayer." |
| Lord Mandelson said he believed more MPs would be forced to step down by the scandal but he said some had been dealt with too rapidly. | Lord Mandelson said he believed more MPs would be forced to step down by the scandal but he said some had been dealt with too rapidly. |
| He told BBC News: "People have reached too hasty a judgement about individual MPs. | He told BBC News: "People have reached too hasty a judgement about individual MPs. |
| "In other cases, there is an acceptance by those Members of Parliament that they have made errors of judgement and they have made amends and taken decisions accordingly and I think we are going to see a few more MPs in that category." | "In other cases, there is an acceptance by those Members of Parliament that they have made errors of judgement and they have made amends and taken decisions accordingly and I think we are going to see a few more MPs in that category." |
| Conservative MP Bill Cash is the latest politician to come under the spotlight after the Telegraph revealed he claimed for rent on a "second home" owned by his daughter. He insists he has done nothing wrong and said he does not intend to stand down. | Conservative MP Bill Cash is the latest politician to come under the spotlight after the Telegraph revealed he claimed for rent on a "second home" owned by his daughter. He insists he has done nothing wrong and said he does not intend to stand down. |
| Labour MP Elliot Morley, who could face a police probe after claiming £16,000 for a mortgage that did not exist, is also facing pressure to step down and is due to meet party officials in his Scunthorpe constituency later. | |
| It comes after Labour's Margaret Moran and Conservative Julie Kirkbride became the latest MPs to stand down over expenses revelations on Thursday. | It comes after Labour's Margaret Moran and Conservative Julie Kirkbride became the latest MPs to stand down over expenses revelations on Thursday. |