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Maria Miller has done right thing, says David Cameron Maria Miller has done right thing, says David Cameron
(about 4 hours later)
David Cameron is continuing to stand by Culture Secretary Maria Miller, insisting she did the "right thing" by apologising to MPs for her attitude to an inquiry into her expenses.David Cameron is continuing to stand by Culture Secretary Maria Miller, insisting she did the "right thing" by apologising to MPs for her attitude to an inquiry into her expenses.
Former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit has accused the minister of "arrogance" and called for her to resign.Former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit has accused the minister of "arrogance" and called for her to resign.
But the prime minister said she should be left to get on with her job.But the prime minister said she should be left to get on with her job.
Mrs Miller, who has repaid £5,800, was cleared of funding a home for her parents at taxpayers' expense.Mrs Miller, who has repaid £5,800, was cleared of funding a home for her parents at taxpayers' expense.
But she was criticised by the Commons standards committee for taking an obstructive attitude towards an inquiry into her expenses, which followed a report in the Daily Telegraph.But she was criticised by the Commons standards committee for taking an obstructive attitude towards an inquiry into her expenses, which followed a report in the Daily Telegraph.
Few Conservatives have criticised Mrs Miller in public - with some believing she is the victim of a backlash prompted by her attitude to press regulation after the Leveson report.Few Conservatives have criticised Mrs Miller in public - with some believing she is the victim of a backlash prompted by her attitude to press regulation after the Leveson report.
But others - including Lord Tebbit - say she should have shown more contrition and have criticised her 32-second apology to MPs.But others - including Lord Tebbit - say she should have shown more contrition and have criticised her 32-second apology to MPs.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told the BBC that Mrs Miller was suffering a backlash for being the minister responsible for getting the bill which brought in same-sex marriage - deeply unpopular with many Tories - through Parliament. He warned of a "witch-hunt" and said she deserved support.Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told the BBC that Mrs Miller was suffering a backlash for being the minister responsible for getting the bill which brought in same-sex marriage - deeply unpopular with many Tories - through Parliament. He warned of a "witch-hunt" and said she deserved support.
House saleHouse sale
Labour has accused Mr Cameron of letting Mrs Miller "off the hook", but has not called for her resignation.Labour has accused Mr Cameron of letting Mrs Miller "off the hook", but has not called for her resignation.
Speaking on a visit to a supermarket in London, Mr Cameron said: "Maria Miller is in her job and she is doing a good job as culture secretary.Speaking on a visit to a supermarket in London, Mr Cameron said: "Maria Miller is in her job and she is doing a good job as culture secretary.
"Also, she went through this process and the committee found that she had made a mistake in her mortgage claims. She paid back money. She made an apology and that's the right thing to do.""Also, she went through this process and the committee found that she had made a mistake in her mortgage claims. She paid back money. She made an apology and that's the right thing to do."
On Monday the Daily Telegraph made further allegations regarding Mrs Miller's home in Wimbledon, south-west London, which was sold this year for more than £1m above its 1995 purchase cost.On Monday the Daily Telegraph made further allegations regarding Mrs Miller's home in Wimbledon, south-west London, which was sold this year for more than £1m above its 1995 purchase cost.
In 2009 she redesignated it as her main residence and stopped claiming second-home allowances on it. This, the Telegraph says, was in an effort to avoid capital gains tax, which is payable at a rate of 28% on profits made from the sale of second homes.In 2009 she redesignated it as her main residence and stopped claiming second-home allowances on it. This, the Telegraph says, was in an effort to avoid capital gains tax, which is payable at a rate of 28% on profits made from the sale of second homes.
In 2009, in the wake of the parliamentary expenses scandal, MPs were advised to pay capital gains tax on the sale of any home for which they had claimed allowances.In 2009, in the wake of the parliamentary expenses scandal, MPs were advised to pay capital gains tax on the sale of any home for which they had claimed allowances.
But a spokeswoman for Mrs Miller, MP for Basingstoke, told the BBC her claims had stopped the month before she received the new advice.But a spokeswoman for Mrs Miller, MP for Basingstoke, told the BBC her claims had stopped the month before she received the new advice.
Of the Telegraph's story, she said: "This is nonsense. It is well documented that Maria stopped claiming any accommodation allowance at all in 2009."Of the Telegraph's story, she said: "This is nonsense. It is well documented that Maria stopped claiming any accommodation allowance at all in 2009."
She added: "She will of course deal with the matter in accordance with HMRC rules and pay any tax that is due."She added: "She will of course deal with the matter in accordance with HMRC rules and pay any tax that is due."
The row over the culture secretary's expenses dates back to December 2012, when the Telegraph reported she had claimed £90,718 in expenses towards mortgage payments on the house in Wimbledon that the MP shared with her parents.The row over the culture secretary's expenses dates back to December 2012, when the Telegraph reported she had claimed £90,718 in expenses towards mortgage payments on the house in Wimbledon that the MP shared with her parents.
'Crisis point''Crisis point'
The parliamentary commissioner for standards, who conducted an investigation into the culture secretary's expenses, ruled she should repay £45,800 but the House of Commons Committee on Standards, which has the final say on issues on ethics and disciplinary matters, cut this to £5,800.The parliamentary commissioner for standards, who conducted an investigation into the culture secretary's expenses, ruled she should repay £45,800 but the House of Commons Committee on Standards, which has the final say on issues on ethics and disciplinary matters, cut this to £5,800.
Documents released by the committee revealed Mrs Miller told the commissioner investigating her that she might go over her head to ask MPs to intervene.Documents released by the committee revealed Mrs Miller told the commissioner investigating her that she might go over her head to ask MPs to intervene.
The 13-strong committee is mostly made up of MPs and its three independent members are not allowed to vote.The 13-strong committee is mostly made up of MPs and its three independent members are not allowed to vote.
Labour MP John Mann, whose complaint sparked the commissioner's investigation into Mrs Miller's claims, asked Commons Speaker John Bercow to grant an urgent question on reform of the committee, but this was not granted.Labour MP John Mann, whose complaint sparked the commissioner's investigation into Mrs Miller's claims, asked Commons Speaker John Bercow to grant an urgent question on reform of the committee, but this was not granted.
Speaking in the Commons, he asked when there would be a debate "on the principle of self-regulation of MPs by MPs".
His Labour colleague Dennis Skinner asked: "How do you solve a problem called Maria?"
Mr Bercow replied that a discussion was possible before the Commons starts its Easter recess on Thursday, saying: "I'm very open to these matters being addressed if members want to debate them, but it must be done in an honourable way."
He added that the "concerns" raised were "widely shared by our constituents".
Conservative MP Nicola Blackwood - a ministerial aide - said Mrs Miller was faced with "most serious" questions and her response could have been "clearer".Conservative MP Nicola Blackwood - a ministerial aide - said Mrs Miller was faced with "most serious" questions and her response could have been "clearer".
She told BBC Radio Oxford: "I have to say if I was faced with the kind of questions that she is faced with I would be really quite worried indeed.She told BBC Radio Oxford: "I have to say if I was faced with the kind of questions that she is faced with I would be really quite worried indeed.
"I only know what has been reported in the papers... but clearly it's very unhelpful for this to drag on in the way that it is.""I only know what has been reported in the papers... but clearly it's very unhelpful for this to drag on in the way that it is."