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| Former DUP man in expenses claims | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A former Conservative MP who defected to the DUP is the latest politician to be caught up in the expenses scandal. | A former Conservative MP who defected to the DUP is the latest politician to be caught up in the expenses scandal. |
| Andrew Hunter, who stood down at the last general election, apparently claimed second home allowances for a property not in his constituency. | Andrew Hunter, who stood down at the last general election, apparently claimed second home allowances for a property not in his constituency. |
| The house in Newbury, Berkshire, was 18 miles from his constituency of Basingstoke and an hour and a half drive from Westminster. | The house in Newbury, Berkshire, was 18 miles from his constituency of Basingstoke and an hour and a half drive from Westminster. |
| A Conservative MP since 1983, Mr Hunter had close links with unionism. | A Conservative MP since 1983, Mr Hunter had close links with unionism. |
| He stood for the DUP in the 2003 Assembly elections in the Lagan Valley constituency but failed to get elected. | |
| Mr Hunter told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that Newbury was "an extremely convenient place for doing business in Basingstoke and also within easy commuting distance of Westminster". | Mr Hunter told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that Newbury was "an extremely convenient place for doing business in Basingstoke and also within easy commuting distance of Westminster". |
| He said he had his designated second home "just outside, but within easy reach, of my constituency" for security reasons. | He said he had his designated second home "just outside, but within easy reach, of my constituency" for security reasons. |