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/8077916.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Darling 'very sorry' over claim Darling 'very sorry' over claim
(29 minutes later)
Chancellor Alistair Darling has apologised "unreservedly" over an expenses claim he made on a flat which he moved out of shortly afterwards.Chancellor Alistair Darling has apologised "unreservedly" over an expenses claim he made on a flat which he moved out of shortly afterwards.
He said he was "very sorry" and had always tried to make sure he did the "right thing" during his time as an MP.He said he was "very sorry" and had always tried to make sure he did the "right thing" during his time as an MP.
He is to repay £700 of a six-monthly service charge, on a flat he moved out of two months later. He is to repay about £350 of a six-monthly service charge, on a flat he moved out of two months later.
Gordon Brown says it was an inadvertent mistake but the Lib Dems say Mr Darling should be sacked over other claims.Gordon Brown says it was an inadvertent mistake but the Lib Dems say Mr Darling should be sacked over other claims.
Meanwhile Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has repaid £384 for bills claimed for a TV licence, house insurance and a gas service agreement at his second home in Derbyshire in 2006.Meanwhile Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has repaid £384 for bills claimed for a TV licence, house insurance and a gas service agreement at his second home in Derbyshire in 2006.
Northern RockNorthern Rock
The bills were paid in advance for a full year, but Mr Hoon changed his second home designation that year to a property in London, after moving out of his grace-and-favour Whitehall flat.The bills were paid in advance for a full year, but Mr Hoon changed his second home designation that year to a property in London, after moving out of his grace-and-favour Whitehall flat.
He said the overpayment had been an "inadvertent administrative error" adding, "I unreservedly apologise for the mistake".He said the overpayment had been an "inadvertent administrative error" adding, "I unreservedly apologise for the mistake".
Mr Darling is among several Cabinet ministers accused of repeatedly "flipping" their second home - changing which of his homes he claimed allowances on.Mr Darling is among several Cabinet ministers accused of repeatedly "flipping" their second home - changing which of his homes he claimed allowances on.
He told the BBC he had only sought to make sure that his claims accurately reflected where he was living.He told the BBC he had only sought to make sure that his claims accurately reflected where he was living.
His circumstances had changed when he moved to Downing Street, when he designated his grace and favour flat as his "second home".His circumstances had changed when he moved to Downing Street, when he designated his grace and favour flat as his "second home".
I'm very sorry about it, I unreservedly apologise for it - it shouldn't have happened and that's why I've decided to repay that money Alistair Darling Darling to repay service charges Lib Dems in 'sack Darling' row Ministers 'in tax advice claims'I'm very sorry about it, I unreservedly apologise for it - it shouldn't have happened and that's why I've decided to repay that money Alistair Darling Darling to repay service charges Lib Dems in 'sack Darling' row Ministers 'in tax advice claims'
In October 2007, when the Northern Rock crisis was at its height, he said it was obvious to him he was spending most of his time in London and so he changed his second home to his Edinburgh property.In October 2007, when the Northern Rock crisis was at its height, he said it was obvious to him he was spending most of his time in London and so he changed his second home to his Edinburgh property.
"If you look at how much I claimed in the last couple of years it is actually a lot less than it was in the past," he said."If you look at how much I claimed in the last couple of years it is actually a lot less than it was in the past," he said.
On the service charge, he said he had been entitled to claim for it at the time, when he was living in the flat.On the service charge, he said he had been entitled to claim for it at the time, when he was living in the flat.
But he said it "ran ahead" six months - covering a period in which he had moved to Downing Street - and in hindsight, he did not want to be "gaining from something I shouldn't have".But he said it "ran ahead" six months - covering a period in which he had moved to Downing Street - and in hindsight, he did not want to be "gaining from something I shouldn't have".
"That's why I decided to repay that sum, I'm very sorry about it, I unreservedly apologise for it - it shouldn't have happened and that's why I've decided to repay that money.""That's why I decided to repay that sum, I'm very sorry about it, I unreservedly apologise for it - it shouldn't have happened and that's why I've decided to repay that money."
Tax adviceTax advice
Mr Darling also claimed on expenses for tax advice. He said any tax advice he received for personal tax had been paid for himself.Mr Darling also claimed on expenses for tax advice. He said any tax advice he received for personal tax had been paid for himself.
But he said MPs' office costs could be complicated as they were treated as MPs' own income for tax purposes and it was important to make sure his returns were completed accurately. He said he had paid tax on the value of the accountancy fees.But he said MPs' office costs could be complicated as they were treated as MPs' own income for tax purposes and it was important to make sure his returns were completed accurately. He said he had paid tax on the value of the accountancy fees.
I think what matters is that the prime minister either backs him or sacks him David CameronConservative leaderI think what matters is that the prime minister either backs him or sacks him David CameronConservative leader
As a cabinet minister, and especially as chancellor, he said he wanted to "make sure I pay the correct amount of tax".As a cabinet minister, and especially as chancellor, he said he wanted to "make sure I pay the correct amount of tax".
Asked if he would be remaining as chancellor, amid speculation he might be moved in an expected reshuffle, Mr Darling said it was for the prime minister to decide who is in the cabinet.Asked if he would be remaining as chancellor, amid speculation he might be moved in an expected reshuffle, Mr Darling said it was for the prime minister to decide who is in the cabinet.
But he said it was "upsetting" when his personal integrity was "impugned".But he said it was "upsetting" when his personal integrity was "impugned".
"I have tried to behave properly, to do the right thing, the proper thing, throughout my time as a member of Parliament and as a minister.""I have tried to behave properly, to do the right thing, the proper thing, throughout my time as a member of Parliament and as a minister."
But he said he understood why people were "thoroughly hacked off" about the expenses row.But he said he understood why people were "thoroughly hacked off" about the expenses row.
The Liberal Democrats say that claims by the chancellor, as guardian of the public finances, must be above reproach and have called for him to go.The Liberal Democrats say that claims by the chancellor, as guardian of the public finances, must be above reproach and have called for him to go.
Treasury spokesman Vince Cable told 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".Treasury spokesman Vince Cable told 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".
Conservative leader David Cameron told the BBC he thought Mr Darling was in "serious difficulties".Conservative leader David Cameron told the BBC he thought Mr Darling was in "serious difficulties".
"I think what matters is that the prime minister either backs him or sacks him. I think this just leaving him to hang out to dry is very bad but I think it just strengthens my argument for a general election."I think what matters is that the prime minister either backs him or sacks him. I think this just leaving him to hang out to dry is very bad but I think it just strengthens my argument for a general election.
"If you start saying 'Well, why not get rid of the chancellor?', well - why not James Purnell, why not Geoff Hoon? I think what we need is the cleansing process of a general election where we all have to go back to our constituencies, we all have to explain ourselves and we let the public be the judge and the jury.""If you start saying 'Well, why not get rid of the chancellor?', well - why not James Purnell, why not Geoff Hoon? I think what we need is the cleansing process of a general election where we all have to go back to our constituencies, we all have to explain ourselves and we let the public be the judge and the jury."
But the prime minister backed Mr Darling earlier, saying he had made an "inadvertent" mistake on the service charge and was doing a "great job" as chancellor.But the prime minister backed Mr Darling earlier, saying he had made an "inadvertent" mistake on the service charge and was doing a "great job" as chancellor.