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Darling to repay service charges Darling to repay service charges
(10 minutes later)
Chancellor Alistair Darling is to repay about £700 of expenses following fresh allegations about his allowances.Chancellor Alistair Darling is to repay about £700 of expenses following fresh allegations about his allowances.
The Daily Telegraph says he claimed for costs on a flat in south London while claiming allowances on his grace-and-favour home in Downing Street.The Daily Telegraph says he claimed for costs on a flat in south London while claiming allowances on his grace-and-favour home in Downing Street.
Mr Darling said it was "untrue" he had claimed for two properties at once but would repay the flat's service charges for September to December 2007.Mr Darling said it was "untrue" he had claimed for two properties at once but would repay the flat's service charges for September to December 2007.
Gordon Brown had earlier said he did not think the claim had "substance".Gordon Brown had earlier said he did not think the claim had "substance".
It came during a BBC Radio 4 Today programme interview in which Mr Brown also said he was "staying on" to "clean up" politics.It came during a BBC Radio 4 Today programme interview in which Mr Brown also said he was "staying on" to "clean up" politics.
Sacking callSacking call
The Daily Telegraph reports that in July 2007, shortly after he became chancellor, Mr Darling submitted a claim of £1,000 for the service charge on his south London flat for the period to December 2007.The Daily Telegraph reports that in July 2007, shortly after he became chancellor, Mr Darling submitted a claim of £1,000 for the service charge on his south London flat for the period to December 2007.
But in September 2007 he moved into the chancellor's grace-and-favour home and made claims there.But in September 2007 he moved into the chancellor's grace-and-favour home and made claims there.
In a statement, Mr Darling - who became chancellor in June 2007 - said the service charge was paid in advance at six-monthly intervals. In October the flat had been let and a tenant had moved in, he added.In a statement, Mr Darling - who became chancellor in June 2007 - said the service charge was paid in advance at six-monthly intervals. In October the flat had been let and a tenant had moved in, he added.
If he had done anything wrong he would be the first to admit it Gordon Brown on Alistair Darling I'm staying on as PM, says BrownIf he had done anything wrong he would be the first to admit it Gordon Brown on Alistair Darling I'm staying on as PM, says Brown
He added: "When I reclaimed the cost of the service charge in July I was living in the flat.He added: "When I reclaimed the cost of the service charge in July I was living in the flat.
"However, because the service charge covered the period beyond September until December I will repay the service charge from September to December.""However, because the service charge covered the period beyond September until December I will repay the service charge from September to December."
A spokesman for Mr Darling, who represents Edinburgh South West, had earlier said the report was wrong.A spokesman for Mr Darling, who represents Edinburgh South West, had earlier said the report was wrong.
"The allegation of double claiming is simply untrue. He paid the bills due for his flat until he moved out in September 2007 after which he made no further claims for it," he said."The allegation of double claiming is simply untrue. He paid the bills due for his flat until he moved out in September 2007 after which he made no further claims for it," he said.
The prime minister's spokesman said "of course" Mr Brown still had full confidence in the chancellor.The prime minister's spokesman said "of course" Mr Brown still had full confidence in the chancellor.
He added: "The Prime Minister is satisfied that Alastair Darling has repaid this money in order to ensure there's no ambiguity about his position and he very much supports that."He added: "The Prime Minister is satisfied that Alastair Darling has repaid this money in order to ensure there's no ambiguity about his position and he very much supports that."
Before this report appeared, the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg had already called for Mr Darling to be sacked because of his expenses claims, saying his finances had to be beyond reproach.Before this report appeared, the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg had already called for Mr Darling to be sacked because of his expenses claims, saying his finances had to be beyond reproach.
Harriet Harman: "We set the taxes, so we have to pay them"
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable repeated calls for Mr Darling to go, telling BBC Scotland that the chancellor must be seen to have "moral authority, not just operating within technical rules, by the financial community and the country at large".Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable repeated calls for Mr Darling to go, telling BBC Scotland that the chancellor must be seen to have "moral authority, not just operating within technical rules, by the financial community and the country at large".
Previously, the Daily Telegraph has reported that Mr Darling "switched" the location of his second home four times in four years and claimed £1,400 for help filling in his tax return over two years.Previously, the Daily Telegraph has reported that Mr Darling "switched" the location of his second home four times in four years and claimed £1,400 for help filling in his tax return over two years.
The chancellor, however, has always said his use of allowances were within the rules.The chancellor, however, has always said his use of allowances were within the rules.
Harriet Harman, Labour's deputy leader and leader of the Commons, told BBC Radio 5 Live that all claims had to be investigated, regardless of politicians' status.Harriet Harman, Labour's deputy leader and leader of the Commons, told BBC Radio 5 Live that all claims had to be investigated, regardless of politicians' status.
Telegraph attackedTelegraph attacked
"It's got to be the same whether you're a back bencher, or whether you're the chancellor of the exchequer, the same rules have got to apply to you," she added."It's got to be the same whether you're a back bencher, or whether you're the chancellor of the exchequer, the same rules have got to apply to you," she added.
"We set the taxes so we've got to pay them. We make the laws so we've got to abide by them.""We set the taxes so we've got to pay them. We make the laws so we've got to abide by them."
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the prime minister insisted Mr Darling was a "very good colleague and friend" who would be "the first to admit" any wrongdoing.Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the prime minister insisted Mr Darling was a "very good colleague and friend" who would be "the first to admit" any wrongdoing.
HAVE YOUR SAY Signing a legally binding code of conduct is one thing, policing it will be another Jerome, Whitby Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Signing a legally binding code of conduct is one thing, policing it will be another Jerome, Whitby Send us your comments
The Telegraph also reports that former Conservative leader, Michael Howard, claimed more than £17,000 for "gardening services" at his second home in Kent over four years.The Telegraph also reports that former Conservative leader, Michael Howard, claimed more than £17,000 for "gardening services" at his second home in Kent over four years.
Mr Howard said the report was not true and the claim was for a variety of maintenance costs, including work done to his home. He insisted the claim was within the rules.Mr Howard said the report was not true and the claim was for a variety of maintenance costs, including work done to his home. He insisted the claim was within the rules.
He told the BBC he was the "31st cheapest" MP in terms of expenses claimed and accused the Daily Telegraph of lying during their investigation of his claim.He told the BBC he was the "31st cheapest" MP in terms of expenses claimed and accused the Daily Telegraph of lying during their investigation of his claim.
Conservative leader David Cameron has repeated calls for an early general election so that voters can get rid of politicians who have been caught up in the scandal.Conservative leader David Cameron has repeated calls for an early general election so that voters can get rid of politicians who have been caught up in the scandal.
Mr Cameron added: "They want to sit in judgment on MPs, they want to elect a new parliament that will set the new rules, that will elect a new Speaker, that will make a new start."Mr Cameron added: "They want to sit in judgment on MPs, they want to elect a new parliament that will set the new rules, that will elect a new Speaker, that will make a new start."
However, Mr Brown said the allowances of all MPs should be scrutinised and any members who were guilty of wrongdoing would be subject to "due process" before a general election so voters could have all the information they needed to judge their representatives.However, Mr Brown said the allowances of all MPs should be scrutinised and any members who were guilty of wrongdoing would be subject to "due process" before a general election so voters could have all the information they needed to judge their representatives.
The prime minister said he was the "best person to clean up the political system" by introducing constitutional change before the next election.The prime minister said he was the "best person to clean up the political system" by introducing constitutional change before the next election.