This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8076405.stm

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Darling gets PM expenses backing Darling to repay service charges
(40 minutes later)
Chancellor Alastair Darling has got backing from the prime minister as he faces fresh allegations about expenses. Chancellor Alastair 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.
A spokesman for Mr Darling called the claim "simply untrue" and Gordon Brown said that after speaking to him he did not think there was "substance" to it. 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 Brown also told the BBC that he was "staying on" to "clean up" politics. Gordon Brown had earlier said he did not think the claim had "substance".
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. It came during a BBC Radio 4 Today programme interview in which Mr Brown also said he was "staying on" to "clean up" politics.
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.
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. The Daily Telegraph reports that in July 2007, shortly after he became chancellor and moved into Downing Street, Mr Darling submitted a claim of £1,000 for the service charge on his south London flat.
The paper says the charge covered a six-month period, during which he began to claim second home allowances for his grace-and-favour home too. The paper says the charge covered a six-month period to December 2007 during which he began to claim second home allowances for his grace-and-favour home too.
A spokesman for Mr Darling, who represents Edinburgh South West, said the report was wrong.A spokesman for Mr Darling, who represents Edinburgh South West, said the report was wrong.
HAVE YOUR SAY Signing a legally binding code of conduct is one thing, policing it will be another Jerome, Whitby Send us your comments
"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.
Before this story 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 story 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.
The chancellor, however, has always said his use of allowances had been within the rules. The chancellor, however, has always said his use of allowances - including a number of switches of his designated second home and claims for accountants fees - had been within the rules.
On Sunday Gordon Brown announced a raft of constitutional reforms such as a bill of rights and possibly voting reform. 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.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Signing a legally binding code of conduct is one thing, policing it will be another Jerome, Whitby class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6494&">Send us your comments 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.
Conservative leader David Cameron said that reform, while welcome, should not be rushed, and voters should have their say now in a general election.
BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said Labour was bracing itself for a tough time at the polls at Thursday's local and European elections.
On Sunday, Gordon Brown was asked if he would step down before the next general election if Cabinet members asked him to - his response was a blunt "no".