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Minister cleared in expenses row Minister cleared in expenses row
(40 minutes later)
Shahid Malik is set to return to the government after he was found not to have breached ministerial rules over a rental agreement in his constituency.Shahid Malik is set to return to the government after he was found not to have breached ministerial rules over a rental agreement in his constituency.
Mr Malik stepped down from his post as justice minister after the Daily Telegraph questioned the amount of rent he was paying for a flat in Dewsbury.Mr Malik stepped down from his post as justice minister after the Daily Telegraph questioned the amount of rent he was paying for a flat in Dewsbury.
No 10 asked standards chief Sir Philip Mawer to look into whether Mr Malik failed to declare a subsidised rent.No 10 asked standards chief Sir Philip Mawer to look into whether Mr Malik failed to declare a subsidised rent.
Mr Malik always insisted he did not breach the ministerial code. Mr Malik said he was "delighted" with the outcome but attacked the media.
He said reporting of the case had been "lazy" and had damaged his reputation.
Mr Malik always insisted he did not breach the ministerial code and stressed the allegations had nothing to do with other stories about MPs' expenses claims.
It is not clear whether Mr Malik will keep his position as justice minister after Gordon Brown's reshuffle although No 10 confirmed he would remain a minister.It is not clear whether Mr Malik will keep his position as justice minister after Gordon Brown's reshuffle although No 10 confirmed he would remain a minister.
Under scrutiny 'Clean bill of health'
Media reports have suggested Mr Malik will also repay some of cost of certain items he claimed under expenses.
There was never any suggestion the justice minister broke Parliamentary rules over expenses.There was never any suggestion the justice minister broke Parliamentary rules over expenses.
But his conduct came under scrutiny after the Daily Telegraph claimed he obtained a discounted rent of £100 a week on his main family home in Dewsbury, from a local businessman, which he paid for himself. But his conduct came under scrutiny after the Daily Telegraph claimed he obtained a discounted rent of £100 a week from a local businessman for his main family home in Dewsbury which he paid for himself.
Mr Malik described the claim about his rent as a "fabrication" and said he was "pleased" the investigation would give him the chance to clear his name. The paper also questioned Mr Malik's rental agreement for his constituency office.
The investigation looked into whether Mr Malik had failed to declare any arrangements which gave him a "potential financial benefit" in breach of the ministerial code. It took me 15 years to build my name and reputation and tragically it was trashed in one mad media day Shahid Malik
Mr Malik agreed to step down while the standards watchdog looked into whether he had benefited financially from the arrangements and failed to disclose them in breach of the ministerial code.
But after taking evidence from the MP and the newspaper, Sir Philip found Mr Malik had paid a market rate for both premises and had not broken the ministerial code.
"Naturally, I am very pleased and relieved that the inquiry has cleared me of any wrongdoing," Mr Malik said.
"Although I, along with my friends and family, never doubted the outcome, it had undoubtedly been an incredibly stressful period."
The reports had been hurtful, he added, and in no way linked to other stories at the time about MPs' questionable expenses claims.
"It took me 15 years to build my name and reputation and tragically it was trashed in one mad media day.
"Sir Philip's clean bill of health will go some way to mending some of the damage to my reputation and heeling some of the hurt caused to friends and family."
At the time, No 10 said the expectation would be that Mr Malik would return to office if he was cleared and no replacement was named in the meantime.At the time, No 10 said the expectation would be that Mr Malik would return to office if he was cleared and no replacement was named in the meantime.
'Stop the bloodfest''Stop the bloodfest'
Before he announced he was stepping down, Mr Malik went on the offensive to claim endless media stories about expenses were in danger of "decimating" democracy and called for the media "bloodfest" to stop. Before stepping down, Mr Malik went on the offensive to claim endless media stories about expenses were in danger of "decimating" democracy and called for the media "bloodfest" to stop.
The Telegraph said he had claimed the maximum amount allowable from the second homes allowance, for more than £66,000, over a three year period. The Telegraph said he had claimed the maximum amount allowable from the second homes allowance, more than £66,000, over a three year period.
His claims were said to have included £730 for a massage chair and £2,100 for a flat screen TV - a claim which was subsequently reduced to £1,050 by the authorities. How Mr Malik defended himself at the time
Mr Malik insisted he had done nothing wrong, had stuck to the rules governing expenses and had asked the fees office for guidance before submitting claims. His claims were said to have included £730 for a massage chair and £2,100 for a flat screen TV - a claim subsequently reduced to £1,050 by the authorities.
He pledged to donate the £1,050 cost of the television to worthy local causes in his constituency. Mr Malik insisted he had stuck to the rules and asked the fees office for guidance before submitting claims.
He said this was a gesture of goodwill and not an admission of any wrongdoing on his part. But he pledged to donate the £1,050 cost of the television to worthy local causes in his constituency, as a gesture of goodwill given public anger over the expenses row.
The expenses scandal has taken a heavy toll on both Labour and the Conservatives with a host of MPs being forced to quit Parliament at the next election after their claims were criticised.The expenses scandal has taken a heavy toll on both Labour and the Conservatives with a host of MPs being forced to quit Parliament at the next election after their claims were criticised.
One Labour MP, Ian Gibson, resigned with immediate effect last week after being told he could not stand again, triggering a likely by-election in his Norwich North constituency later this year.One Labour MP, Ian Gibson, resigned with immediate effect last week after being told he could not stand again, triggering a likely by-election in his Norwich North constituency later this year.