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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| MPs 'over-claimed' on council tax | MPs 'over-claimed' on council tax |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than 50 MPs have claimed expenses for council tax they have not paid, the Daily Telegraph says. | More than 50 MPs have claimed expenses for council tax they have not paid, the Daily Telegraph says. |
| They are said to have claimed more than the rates of tax published by councils. | They are said to have claimed more than the rates of tax published by councils. |
| The new expense allegations came after police launched a criminal inquiry into an alleged misuse of expenses by a small number of MPs and peers. | The new expense allegations came after police launched a criminal inquiry into an alleged misuse of expenses by a small number of MPs and peers. |
| Police say its economic and specialist crime command will investigate, following a public outcry about the way some MPs used their allowances. | Police say its economic and specialist crime command will investigate, following a public outcry about the way some MPs used their allowances. |
| The BBC understands that former Labour minister Elliot Morley is one of the MPs under scrutiny by police, as is another Labour MP, David Chaytor. | The BBC understands that former Labour minister Elliot Morley is one of the MPs under scrutiny by police, as is another Labour MP, David Chaytor. |
| If I have inadvertently made incorrect claims I will of course pay any money back Conservative MP David Willetts | If I have inadvertently made incorrect claims I will of course pay any money back Conservative MP David Willetts |
| Both allegedly claimed interest on mortgages they had already paid off. | Both allegedly claimed interest on mortgages they had already paid off. |
| A Labour peer, Baroness Uddin, may also face questions about her use of a flat in Maidstone. | A Labour peer, Baroness Uddin, may also face questions about her use of a flat in Maidstone. |
| In new revelations by the Telegraph - which has obtained expense claims made by all MPs - it is alleged that politicians claimed for council tax on second homes in excess of town halls' published rates by house band. | In new revelations by the Telegraph - which has obtained expense claims made by all MPs - it is alleged that politicians claimed for council tax on second homes in excess of town halls' published rates by house band. |
| The paper also said 18 of the 50 politicians accused over their council tax claims had already made re-payments to the Commons Fees Office. | The paper also said 18 of the 50 politicians accused over their council tax claims had already made re-payments to the Commons Fees Office. |
| 'I'm sorry' | 'I'm sorry' |
| The Telegraph says Labour MP Eric Illsley was accused of over-claiming by more than £6,000 between 2004 and 2008. | The Telegraph says Labour MP Eric Illsley was accused of over-claiming by more than £6,000 between 2004 and 2008. |
| Mr Illsley said the claims were submitted during a period when receipts were not required. | Mr Illsley said the claims were submitted during a period when receipts were not required. |
| The claims do not match the council tax bills. It is embarrassing Eric Illsley | The claims do not match the council tax bills. It is embarrassing Eric Illsley |
| Until recently, MPs only needed to provide receipts for claims higher than £250 a month. | Until recently, MPs only needed to provide receipts for claims higher than £250 a month. |
| Many MPs claimed a notional amount which wasn't related to the actual bill, he said. | Many MPs claimed a notional amount which wasn't related to the actual bill, he said. |
| "This is why the claims do not match the council tax bills. It is embarrassing. I'm sorry it has happened. | "This is why the claims do not match the council tax bills. It is embarrassing. I'm sorry it has happened. |
| "I have never made any secret of my claims and I will pay back the money." | "I have never made any secret of my claims and I will pay back the money." |
| 'Mortified' | 'Mortified' |
| Former minister Beverley Hughes was said to have profited by up to £2,000. | Former minister Beverley Hughes was said to have profited by up to £2,000. |
| She told the paper she was checking her records, but did not believe the amount was as much as that. | She told the paper she was checking her records, but did not believe the amount was as much as that. |
| Former home secretary David Blunkett told the Telegraph he may have over-claimed by £178. | Former home secretary David Blunkett told the Telegraph he may have over-claimed by £178. |
| The expenses row has enveloped all the major parties | The expenses row has enveloped all the major parties |
| His spokesman said: "David's pretty mortified to have been caught up in this at all, especially as his is the lowest amount of any of them listed in the Telegraph this morning. | His spokesman said: "David's pretty mortified to have been caught up in this at all, especially as his is the lowest amount of any of them listed in the Telegraph this morning. |
| "We'll be checking the exact amount on Monday with the Fees Office, and we're presuming what's an 85p-a-week shortfall is down to rounding up. | "We'll be checking the exact amount on Monday with the Fees Office, and we're presuming what's an 85p-a-week shortfall is down to rounding up. |
| "If there is a shortfall and there is money to be repaid then David will obviously repay it straight away." | "If there is a shortfall and there is money to be repaid then David will obviously repay it straight away." |
| Government whip Mark Tami has allegedly profited by about £1,500. | Government whip Mark Tami has allegedly profited by about £1,500. |
| Mr Tami said: "I am going to look into whether I have over-claimed and if I have then clearly I will pay back any over-claim." | Mr Tami said: "I am going to look into whether I have over-claimed and if I have then clearly I will pay back any over-claim." |
| Tory MPs David Willetts and Jeremy Hunt admitted to having over-claimed for council tax by about £500 each, the Telegraph said. | Tory MPs David Willetts and Jeremy Hunt admitted to having over-claimed for council tax by about £500 each, the Telegraph said. |
| Mr Willetts said it was possible that he had "inadvertently" claimed for an 11th month while his council tax bills were divided into 10 payments. | Mr Willetts said it was possible that he had "inadvertently" claimed for an 11th month while his council tax bills were divided into 10 payments. |
| "If I have inadvertently made incorrect claims I will of course pay any money back," he said. | "If I have inadvertently made incorrect claims I will of course pay any money back," he said. |
| Error | |
| In May, the Labour MP for Stafford, David Kidney, paid back about £2,500 that the Commons authorities mistakenly paid him. | |
| "It's not factually true that I made inflated claims," he said. | |
| "The Fees Office made a series of mistakes leading to me being overpaid and that's why I've had to pay money back. The Fees Office letter is on my website". | |
| In a separate development announced on Friday, Scotland Yard confirmed it would investigate claims made by some MPs and peers. | In a separate development announced on Friday, Scotland Yard confirmed it would investigate claims made by some MPs and peers. |