MP 'lots of booze' claim 'a joke'

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An MP's partner and Commons assistant told officials she looked forward to spending his expenses on "lots of booze", a newspaper has said.

Andrew Turner, Tory MP for the Isle of Wight, admitted to the Daily Telegraph that Carole Dennett's remark was "inappropriate" but said it was a joke.

Shadow energy minister Charles Hendry, told the paper domestic servants he paid for on expenses were "necessary".

The reports come as Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon agreed to repay allowances.

He became the second cabinet minister in 24 hours to hand back money claimed on a designated second home.

Bury North Labour MP David Chaytor has also announced he is to stand down after being accused of claiming money for a mortgage he had already paid off.

'Life coaching'

The Telegraph said Mr Turner claimed expenses for £6,471 of the £10,250 he was ordered to pay a to former office manager whom an industrial tribunal found had been unfairly dismissed.

Look forward to receiving the money - I shall then be able to spend it on lots of booze so that the forthcoming election goes in an alcoholic blur Carole DennettPartner of and Commons aide to Andrew Turner <a class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8078243.stm">Hoon sorry for expenses 'error'</a> <a class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8078159.stm">Voters believe MPs corrupt - poll </a>

His other claims included £160 invoice for a member of staff who had "life coaching (4 sessions)" and £240 for an employee to study GCSE maths.

Ms Dennett's remarks were an email sent to the Commons fees office before the 2005 general election.

She wrote: "Look forward to receiving the money - I shall then be able to spend it on lots of booze so that the forthcoming election goes in an alcoholic blur."

A year later, her partner Mr Turner submitted receipts including one for wrapping paper bought from Matalan on Christmas Eve.

His claims were not questioned by the fees office, the Daily Telegraph said.

In a statement, Mr Turner insisted that "costs were fully agreed with the fees office" and that industrial tribunal costs could be claimed against expenses.

But he admitted that the wrapping paper should have been "crossed off the claim".

He told the Telegraph that the "booze" email appeared inappropriate in the "cold light of day" but was "a private joke between two people who were in regular contact".

The paper also said that Mr Hendry - the shadow energy minister and MP for Wealden - claimed over £7,300 for domestic staff at his second home over three years.

A contract drawn up in 2004 said the servants, a husband and wife, were paid £737 each month for clearning, ironing clothes, and offering "general support in the garden" of Mr Hendry's £750,000 townhouse, the Telegraph said.

The newspaper said the MP's "main home" was a house in Westminster bought for £2.56m without a mortgage.

Mr Hendry told the Telegraph that he had not claimed the full cost of help in his home as it seemed proper that he should meet most himself.

MPS LEAVING PARLIAMENT The following MPs have said in the past three weeks that they will not contest the next electionConservative: Andrew MacKay, Julie Kirkbride, Douglas Hogg, Sir Peter Viggers, Anthony Steen, Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton, Christopher FraserLabour: Margaret Moran, Ben Chapman, David Chaytor, Ian McCartney, John Smith, Patricia Hewitt, Beverley Hughes, Michael Martin (Speaker) <a class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8078508.stm">Hewitt to stand down as MP</a> <a class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8078558.stm">Labour MP Chaytor to stand down</a>

"I have claimed for some of the costs for that help which was necessary and related to the house, not the garden," he said.

Shailesh Vara, the shadow deputy leader of the Commons and Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire, denied claims in the paper that he tried to claim £1,500 for costs incurred before he was elected in 2005.

In a statement, Mr Vara said he had submitted bills which covered the whole year but the Commons fees office "correctly did the pro-rata exercise" and he "did not receive a penny more than was due".

The paper also said that the fees office raised concerns about the fact that Mr Vara's wife was named on the mortgage statements, and that he used parliamentary expenses to refurbish his second home before selling it for a £150,000 profit.

Mr Vara said the fees office had acknowledged that his wife's name on the mortgage and bills did not alter the "common sense reality" that it was owned jointly by the couple.

He said he had spent just £1,320 on "necessary work" to the second home before selling it, and insisted that it "stretches the bounds of credulity" to say that this had generated a windfall.

Meanwhile, former Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has said she will stand down at the next election but insisted her decision had nothing to do with the expenses furore.

Children's minister Beverley Hughes has also announced she would stand down due to "family circumstances".