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Expenses minister cleared - No 10 Expenses minister cleared - No 10
(about 23 hours later)
Shahid Malik has returned to government after No 10 said he was found not to have breached ministerial rules over a rental agreement in his constituency.Shahid Malik has returned to government after No 10 said 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 its standards adviser Sir Philip Mawer to look into whether the MP failed to declare a subsidised rent.No 10 asked its standards adviser Sir Philip Mawer to look into whether the MP failed to declare a subsidised rent.
But the PM's decision not to publish the report in full is being criticised.But the PM's decision not to publish the report in full is being criticised.
No 10 said it would publish the summary but that it was not "appropriate" to publish the full findings as they contained "too much detail about Mr Malik's personal matters".No 10 said it would publish the summary but that it was not "appropriate" to publish the full findings as they contained "too much detail about Mr Malik's personal matters".
'Big mistake''Big mistake'
Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said it would be "a big mistake" if the findings were not made public.Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said it would be "a big mistake" if the findings were not made public.
Such a move would "totally undermine" Mr Brown's attempts to clean up Parliament after the expenses scandal, Sir Alistair told the BBC.Such a move would "totally undermine" Mr Brown's attempts to clean up Parliament after the expenses scandal, Sir Alistair told the BBC.
If Mr Malik has been cleared as we are told, why not publish the report? Norman Baker, Lib Dem transport spokesmanIf Mr Malik has been cleared as we are told, why not publish the report? Norman Baker, Lib Dem transport spokesman
And current standards chair Sir Christopher Kelly, who is conducting an urgent review into MPs' pay and allowances, said such reports should be made available in "the interest of public confidence".And current standards chair Sir Christopher Kelly, who is conducting an urgent review into MPs' pay and allowances, said such reports should be made available in "the interest of public confidence".
The Lib Dems are also pressing for the report to be published as soon as possible.The Lib Dems are also pressing for the report to be published as soon as possible.
Its transport spokesman Norman Baker told the Daily Telegraph that Gordon Brown had "fallen at the first fence on the transparency course".Its transport spokesman Norman Baker told the Daily Telegraph that Gordon Brown had "fallen at the first fence on the transparency course".
"If Mr Malik has been cleared as we are told, why not publish the report?""If Mr Malik has been cleared as we are told, why not publish the report?"
No 10 said Sir Philip, who advises Gordon Brown on ministerial interests, had concluded Mr Malik had not breached the ministerial code in relation to his rental arrangements.No 10 said Sir Philip, who advises Gordon Brown on ministerial interests, had concluded Mr Malik had not breached the ministerial code in relation to his rental arrangements.
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.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.
The paper also questioned Mr Malik's rental agreement for his constituency office.The paper also questioned Mr Malik's rental agreement for his constituency office.
But after taking evidence from the MP and the newspaper, Sir Philip is said to have found Mr Malik had paid a "reasonable" market rate for both premisesBut after taking evidence from the MP and the newspaper, Sir Philip is said to have found Mr Malik had paid a "reasonable" market rate for both premises
'Clean bill of health''Clean bill of health'
The MP, who has become communities minister, said he was "delighted" with the verdict but attacked reporting of the case, saying it had damaged his reputation.The MP, who has become communities minister, said he was "delighted" with the verdict but attacked reporting of the case, saying it 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.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.
"Naturally, I am very pleased and relieved that the inquiry has cleared me of any wrongdoing," Mr Malik said."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.""Although I, along with my friends and family, never doubted the outcome, it had undoubtedly been an incredibly stressful period."
Mr Malik defends his actionsMr Malik defends his actions
The reports had been hurtful, he added, and not linked to other stories about MPs' questionable expenses claims.The reports had been hurtful, he added, and not linked to other stories 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."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.""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."
Before stepping down, Mr Malik went on the offensive to claim endless media stories about expenses were in danger of "decimating" democracy.Before stepping down, Mr Malik went on the offensive to claim endless media stories about expenses were in danger of "decimating" democracy.
The Telegraph said he had claimed the maximum amount allowable from the second homes allowance, 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 subsequently reduced to £1,050 by the authorities.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.
Mr Malik insisted he had stuck to the rules and asked the fees office for guidance before submitting claims.Mr Malik insisted he had stuck to the rules and asked the fees office for guidance before submitting claims.
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.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.