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Tory MPs 'to pay back £250,000' Tory MPs to pay back £250,000
(about 1 hour later)
Conservative MPs are to pay back another £125,000 in expenses as a result of the party's scrutiny panel's review of claims, the BBC understands. Conservative MPs are to pay back another £125,000 in expenses as a result of the party's scrutiny review of claims, David Cameron has confirmed.
It doubles to £250,000 the amount being paid back by Conservative MPs in total.It doubles to £250,000 the amount being paid back by Conservative MPs in total.
David Cameron set up the scrutiny panel after the Daily Telegraph highlighted a number of claims which led to Tory MPs saying they would pay back £125,000. By doing so, Mr Cameron said MPs would go some way to "atone for the mistakes of the past".
Mr Cameron summoned all his MPs to a meeting in the Commons where he has addressed them about its findings. Mr Cameron set up the scrutiny panel after the Daily Telegraph highlighted a number of claims which led to Tory MPs saying they would pay back £125,000.
The BBC News Channnel's chief political correspondent James Landale said he understood that an interim report covering the claims of the majority, but not all, Tory MPs would be issued later on Thursday. 'Damaging issue'
He said MPs leaving the meeting described it as "harmonious". Mr Cameron summoned all his MPs to a meeting in the Commons where he addressed them about its findings.
SCRUTINY PANEL MEMBERS Tory chief whip: Patrick McLoughlinDeputy chief whip: John RandallNational convention chairman: Jeremy MiddletonLawyer: David GoldLeader's chief of staff: Ed LlewellynParty finance director: Ian McIsaac Later, he said the decision by a host of MPs to pay back more money showed a "collective" understanding of the scale of problem and demonstrated the party's "real desire to take a lead over what is a very damaging issue".
We need to recognise, and in some way try and atone for, the mistakes of the past David Cameron
"It is about understanding the level of public anger about a system which was broken and the part we played in it," he said during a speech in London.
"It is not good enough just to sort out the rules for the future.
"We need to recognise, and in some way try and atone for, the mistakes of the past. And these payments are, I believe, an important part of that."
The details of which MPs are returning more money and the sums involved will be published shortly.
The BBC News Channnel's chief political correspondent James Landale said he understood that the report would be an interim one covering the claims of the majority, but not all, Tory MPs.
He said MPs leaving the meeting - in which Mr Cameron stressed the process had been voluntary and not a "witch-hunt" - described it as "harmonious".
The parliamentary authorities last week said that during the recent controversy over expenses MPs from all parties had paid back £500,000 of money claimed.The parliamentary authorities last week said that during the recent controversy over expenses MPs from all parties had paid back £500,000 of money claimed.
Fair system
The £125,000 to be paid back as a result of the Conservative scrutiny panel's review is believed to be in addition to that.The £125,000 to be paid back as a result of the Conservative scrutiny panel's review is believed to be in addition to that.
A separate body has been set up by Parliament to go through all MPs' claims over recent years, but Mr Cameron said he wanted the Conservatives to react more quickly to public anger over expenses.A separate body has been set up by Parliament to go through all MPs' claims over recent years, but Mr Cameron said he wanted the Conservatives to react more quickly to public anger over expenses.
Mr Cameron, who has himself agreed to pay back nearly £1,000, has defended the process as transparent and fair in the face of criticism from some sections of the party.Mr Cameron, who has himself agreed to pay back nearly £1,000, has defended the process as transparent and fair in the face of criticism from some sections of the party.
He set up the scrutiny panel, whose members include his chief whip and chief of staff, after the Daily Telegraph published articles in May about claims made by shadow cabinet members and backbenchers.He set up the scrutiny panel, whose members include his chief whip and chief of staff, after the Daily Telegraph published articles in May about claims made by shadow cabinet members and backbenchers.
He insisted all Tory MPs would have to submit their expenses over the past four years for inspection and anyone found to have made unjustified requests would have to repay money or face being suspended. He insisted all Tory MPs would have to submit their expenses over the past four years for inspection and anyone found to have made unjustified requests would have to repay money or face suspension.
Refusing
He pledged to take a tougher line against any MP found to have "flipped" their homes to maximise their allowances or to avoid paying capital gains tax on property sales.
Frontbenchers who had already agreed to repay money include George Osborne, Michael Gove and Alan Duncan.Frontbenchers who had already agreed to repay money include George Osborne, Michael Gove and Alan Duncan.
SCRUTINY PANEL MEMBERS Tory chief whip: Patrick McLoughlinDeputy chief whip: John RandallNational convention chairman: Jeremy MiddletonLawyer: David GoldLeader's chief of staff: Ed LlewellynParty finance director: Ian McIsaac
Mr Cameron, himself, has agreed to refund the taxpayer for the cost of maintenance costs on his constituency home, including removing wisteria.Mr Cameron, himself, has agreed to refund the taxpayer for the cost of maintenance costs on his constituency home, including removing wisteria.
Several backbenchers whose claims have come under particular scrutiny, such as Bill Cash and Sir John Butterfill, have said they will repay money if the panel concluded they should. Several backbenchers whose claims have come under particular scrutiny, such as Bill Cash and Sir John Butterfill, said they would repay money if the panel said they should.
But one MP, Brian Binley, has publicly said he will not repay any money if asked to do so.But one MP, Brian Binley, has publicly said he will not repay any money if asked to do so.
He said he had not done anything wrong after reports he claimed for renting a flat owned by his own company.He said he had not done anything wrong after reports he claimed for renting a flat owned by his own company.
Public outcryPublic outcry
A number of Tory MPs have said they will stand down from Parliament since the expenses crisis began, several in direct consequence of public outcry over their behaviour.A number of Tory MPs have said they will stand down from Parliament since the expenses crisis began, several in direct consequence of public outcry over their behaviour.
These include Sir Peter Viggers and Douglas Hogg, who respectively claimed for the cost of buying a duck house and having the moat at his country home cleaned, claims Mr Cameron said were unacceptable.These include Sir Peter Viggers and Douglas Hogg, who respectively claimed for the cost of buying a duck house and having the moat at his country home cleaned, claims Mr Cameron said were unacceptable.
Andrew MacKay stood down as an aide to Mr Cameron, and later said he would stand down as an MP, after it emerged he had named the main home in which he and his wife, fellow Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, lived as his second home and claimed expenses on it.Andrew MacKay stood down as an aide to Mr Cameron, and later said he would stand down as an MP, after it emerged he had named the main home in which he and his wife, fellow Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, lived as his second home and claimed expenses on it.
Ms Kirkbride later said she would quit Parliament after facing criticism over claims she re-mortgaged her second home in her constituency, in which her brother lived rent free, to build an extra bedroom.Ms Kirkbride later said she would quit Parliament after facing criticism over claims she re-mortgaged her second home in her constituency, in which her brother lived rent free, to build an extra bedroom.
She insisted she had not done anything wrong but was stepping down to protect her family from what she described as "unbearable pressure" from the media's coverage of her expenses. She insisted she had not done anything wrong but was stepping down to protect her family from what she said was "unbearable pressure" over expenses coverage.