Secretary 'raised Spelman concerns'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

BBC2's Newsnight revealed that Sally Hammond - who became a part-time secretary to Mrs Spelman in 1999 - was "shocked" to discover just how much she was paying to nanny Tina Haynes.

Ms Haynes was employed by Mrs Spelman when she became an MP in 1997 to look after her children and do secretarial work.

However, according to Newsnight, Mrs Hammond found that Ms Haynes did little or no secretarial work to justify the payments.

Mrs Hammond - the wife of Tory front bencher Stephen Hammond - was said to have become aware of the situation because she could not understand why Mrs Spelman had so little money available for office expenditure.

She took her concerns to shadow cabinet member Peter Ainsworth - who she had worked for in the past - who in turn took it up with Chief Whip James Arbuthnot and the arrangement was stopped.

However Newsnight said that a number of Tory MPs who are familiar with Mrs Hammond's version of events have now contacted the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Michael Spicer, demanding she should be sacked.

A party spokesman said that Mrs Spelman was co-operating fully with the inquiry into the matter by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon.

"Caroline Spelman asked for the inquiry herself and will happily provide all relevant information to the parliamentary commissioner," the spokesman said.