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Pressure on Smith over her £116,000 claims for family home
Nicholas Cecil9 Feb 2009
David Cameron today increased the pressure on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith for claiming taxpayers' cash for her family home.
The Tory leader said Ms Smith may have some “questions” to answer over her arrangements for claiming £116,000 over six years.
The Home Secretary has been engulfed in controversy after it emerged she has declared a house in London that she shares with her sister as her main residence. This allows her to claim up to £24,000 a year for a second home in Worcestershire where her husband and children live.
Ms Smith insists that she has not broken any Commons rules. But she could face an investigation by the parliamentary watchdog after a campaign group reportedly made a complaint about her use of the funds.
Mr Cameron questioned the conduct of the Home Secretary, whose post comes with a £142,000 salary. He said: “She may have some questions to answer when you look at the Green Book and all the rules that govern it. There are rules and you have to meet both the letter and the spirit and explain in a reasonable way this is the arrangement I have and I think it's a reasonable one'.”
MPs in the Cabinet have claimed more than £2 million over the past six years for second homes and they are split over which property they treat as their main residence. Children's Secretary Ed Balls and his wife Yvette Cooper treat their Yorkshire constituency home as their main residence, allowing them to use taxpayers' money to pay for a £600,000 second home in the capital.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Universities Secretary John Denham also declare their constituency home as their main home.
However, Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Health Secretary Alan Johnson have their main home in London, with the latter stressing that he rents a “modest” flat in Hull.
There is no evidence that any ministers have broken any rules. Mr Balls and Ms Cooper were cleared of any wrongdoing by Parliament's sleaze watchdog. But the Commons guidance is widely seen to be so lax that MPs can effectively choose which property to declare as their main residence. Under the rules, the main residence is where an MP “spends more nights than any other”.
Ms Smith says she has fully abided by the Commons regulations and that her arrangements, under which she spends the majority of her time on government business in London, had been approved by the parliamentary authorities. She usually returns to her constituency home on Thursday evenings and is back in London on Sunday or Monday. Ms Smith is said to pay her sister Sara, a BBC reporter, a “market rate” to live in their shared house.
A spokeswoman for Ms Smith said: “She spends the majority of her time in London and has full approval for any associated expenses relating to her second home in her constituency.”
Reader views (45)
It's snouts in the trough as usual - pushing the expenses allowance to its limit. All political parties are the same. It's atrocious that some of these characters earn more in expenses than some of us do in employment - that's if we have a job.
The house where the family resides should be the main home. Overnights should be at a hotel or in modest rented accommodation.
And relatives should not be employable - as someone said.
- Chrissy, Halifax UK, 30/03/2009 11:07
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to find out where jaqui smiths second home is find out where she is registered to vote.
- John Mckim, glasgow.uk, 12/03/2009 13:15
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I love being preached to by rich socialists. With their double standards and do as I say not as I do ethos.
Corruption? Incompetence? Or both? That is the Labour way.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 12/03/2009 12:28
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Yet another example of the 'Political Class' enriching themselves as the people they purport to represent suffer the economic effects of their policies.
Remember how Speaker Martin fought tooth and nail to keep details of MP's expenses private!
Be brave Cameron, keep up the pressure on Jacqui Smith, it is both the right thing to do and will also prove to be a real vote winner!
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK, 12/03/2009 12:25
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If Mrs Smith paid £116,000 to her sister for the use of a room, did Mrs Smith's sister declare that income for tax purposes ?
- Peter Haldane, London, 12/03/2009 12:19
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I think its about time all THE UK MARCHED TO NO 10 AND HOUSE OF COMMONS.
- Olla, London, 09/02/2009 22:53
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Yes, let bankers give up their bonuses. And let Government Ministers also give up their housing allowances during the recession.
- Cass, London, 09/02/2009 22:25
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I really do have to complain in the strongest possible terms about yet further abuse by this government. How much more are we to accept for what is basically anti-social behaviour especially in the Brown induced debt crunch come recession come depression.
- Oldraver, Gloucs UK, 09/02/2009 21:31
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We slither and slide through the grime and slime of politicians' construction. We will continue in this manner for as long as we allow this arrogant, deluded, self centred and ignorant people slide up their path to power over others. They are fed and supported by equally hypocritical sycophants.
Why do we put up with it? Some of us would do the same if we were given the opportunity but many wouldn't.
Let us promote the more humble, emotionally intelligent among us.
- Gordon, walton UK, 09/02/2009 21:31
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Do we have to take to the streets to secure a general election to get McBean and his cohorts out of office.
Enough is enough, he is bringing this counrty to it's knees. Is it deliberate, or what.
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire, 09/02/2009 18:23
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These misuses of our Taxes etc have only come to light because of the bank monetary situation,is'nt it time for a new type of democracy to be introduced,none of us are here for very long why make it so damned hard for every body else.
- David,Chertsey, Chertsey.UK., 09/02/2009 17:56
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Not a word about the Conservative members who have paid their families for work they haven't done. The Tory who claimed allowances for being away from home overnight for months, and then drove to his home 20 minutes up the road every night.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 09/02/2009 17:56
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How on earth can it be argued that this woman's house in Redditch is a "second Home"? The fact that she lives for half the week at her sister's house in London does not make her sister's house her first or second home - it is her sister's house. Ms Smith clearly only owns one home.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England., 09/02/2009 17:38
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Who'd have thought it. A politician with their snout in the trough, only occasionally pausing to condemn greedy bankers and dip into my wallet for more of my cash.
- Ben, London, W1, 09/02/2009 17:20
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both bankers and politicians would do well to reflect on the french revolution. the population rose up when exhausted by the blatant outrages of the aristocracy.
whilst I'm sure there is the odd bod in both fields who has a degree of morality and is appalled by the disregard for public disdain of their peers, the time for a shake of the blanket is fast approaching.like a dog with fleas, when the irritation becomes unbearable it has to be scratched.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 09/02/2009 16:55
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Wat Tyler, I understand what your saying, but to me thats what Labour and Socialism is all about. When I was young they cared about us working classess. From the Late 1970's. We then became despised and treated worse than a second class citizen with non stop political correction thrown at us and to make us feel ashamed to be white and guilty. The bottom line is, they are left wing and it stinks. The fight back has already started mate and come any election be prepared for big surprises as we the working class have had enough.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 09/02/2009 16:53
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Neil M., London UK, you are right that “…the system is run by thieves, liars and frauds.” But not voting in elections only plays into their hands. They don’t care if hardly anyone votes; there will still be a result and someone will be “elected”.
Our only power is one vote very 4 or 5 years which elects an MP, decides the governing party, gives a mandate for its agenda, selects a Prime Minister and expresses our opinion on a party’s policies (ridiculous, I know). Between elections we live in a dictatorship - parliament has become a rubber-stamp for the Prime Minister.
We might dislike all the likely election winners, but the one thing politicians hate and fear is to lose power. By voting a governing party out of office, we can get the leader replaced and a discussion about why they lost. If the new government also betray us, vote them out next time.
- Martha, Derbyshire, 09/02/2009 16:36
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Labour accused John Major's Government of sleaze, but this Labour Government has proved that they are the real experts in such matters.
- Douglas, Bristol, 09/02/2009 16:29
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Joe, Swanley Kent, if you had said Smith, Brown, and other Neo Labour leadership are corrupt, self-serving, power-crazy, authoritarian, treacherous control-freaks, I would readily agree with you.
But "lefty" and "socialism" can never be applied to them. Socialism was/is an abomination to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - they removed all traces of it from Neo Labour.
Gordon Brown and Tony Blair are admirers of Margaret Thatcher and copied her style. Brown has always been the servant of big business, bankers and the super-rich (to the detriment of the poor), he is autocratic, hates democracy, despises the views of the electorate, faithfully supported a right-wing US government, helped start an unwanted war, privatises public enterprises (via PFIs, PPP, contracting out, sell-off of profitable sectors) and is bringing in unnecessary police state measures (such as his ID System, NIR database, eBorders and Contact Point ) which attack our privacy and rights.
No "old Labour" activist or "socialist" supports or even condones these policies.
- Wat Tyler, Midlands, UK, 09/02/2009 16:16
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Why do her family not live with her in her "main residence"? Is she divorced or estranged?
No, of course not- it's a scam. By any measure it is fraud by false representation:
Exerpt from Faud Act 2006;
2 Fraud by false representation
(1)A person is in breach of this section if he—
(a)dishonestly makes a false representation, and
(b)intends, by making the representation—
(i)to make a gain for himself or another, or
(ii)to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.
(2)A representation is false if—
(a)it is untrue or misleading, and
(b)the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading.
(3)“Representation” means any representation as to fact or law, including a representation as to the state of mind of—
(a)the person making the representation, or
(b)any other person.
(4)A representation may be express or implied.
(5)For the purposes of this section a representation may be regarded as made if it (or anything implying it) is submitted in any form to any system or device designed to receive, convey or respond to communications (with or without human intervention).
I have read this Act of Parliament in its entirety, and have been unable to find any clause exempting NuLiebour ministers from its authority.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 09/02/2009 16:12
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She should be charged under a brand new Law.
THE FRAUD ACT.....2006...... Sec 3 and 4
It states "lying to obtain money " another part deals with "Obtaining money by omission"
....GOTCHA.. !
- Frank, Bristol UK, 09/02/2009 16:11
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The Government in the shape of Yvette Cooper is quite clear that Bankers, even if legally entitled, should not accept bonuses on moral grounds. Why cannot those grounds be applied to the expenses she, her husband, Jacqui Smith and no doubt countless other MPs on all sides regularly pocket without any sign of embarassment?
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 09/02/2009 16:06
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Boo hoo hoo hoo...what a bunch of whiners. If you want a better politician then get off your backside and stand for election. Oh...you can't...because you prefer sitting around complaining about the ones you have - all the self-righteousness with none of the responsibility.
You all get the politicians you deserve.
- Liberal And Proud, London, UK, 09/02/2009 16:05
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Time to call a halt to this dishonest blatant misuse of Taxpayers money. New rules should be put in place to commence when the next parliament is sworn in.
1. The Parliamentary salary should be decided before the next election and remain the same until the the next dissolution.It should be higher than it is now. There also should be fewer members. Scottish members should not vote on English legislation.
2. All expenses incurred by the member must be passed & paid for by the constituents of the member. The funds being supplied from Local Taxes.
4. Secretarial assistance & Reseachers for members, should supplied by the constituency . The jobs should be advertised, the candidates then interviewed by the member and a panel of constituents. The wife is free to apply if she feels up to the job,when on duty with her husband she may claim expenses again being audited by the constituency.
5.Whilst Parliament is sitting, members who do not live within 20 miles of Westminster will be accomodated in London in an hotel or similar accomodation ie R.N.C Greenwich,Chelsea Barracks or whatever.
4. No John Lewis list will be needed.
These rules would sharpen them all up.Get on with it Cameron!!
- Mordwinoff, Lisle France, 09/02/2009 16:01
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Will it never end?
- Peter, France, 09/02/2009 15:53
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Jacqui Smith may be procedurally correct but, she is morally corrupt. Everybody,(including Jacqui Smith) kbows that this is a fiddle. That it does not break hopelessly lax rules does not make it acceptable. Nobody else in amy other profession would get away with this kind of subterfuge.
Most of our MPs are at it and they should all be ashamed of themselves. They talk about corruption by politicians in developing countries, but they are just as bad. They talk about greedy Bankers in this country, but they are just as bad. Most of them are morally bankrupt. How do they get away with it?
Pure brass neck!
- John Stewart, Barking, UK, 09/02/2009 15:50
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Jaqui claims "It has been cleared by the Commons Fees Office."
Not so!
The Fees Office don't clear anything, they take an "Honourable" Member's word. The property records indicate sole-ownership of the property she claims is her "main home" is in her sister's name.
- Taxfodder, Cambridge UK, 09/02/2009 15:42
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Her majority is only 2700 so this will be the end of her cheating career.
- Roger Slade, Winchester, Hampshire, England, 09/02/2009 15:25
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She will have to sign her own RIPA warrant. Don't worry about the intrusive CCTV and other surveillance dear. As your so fond of telling us if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear!
I hope your DNA is taken and put on your database. Oh this is priceless! The Home Sec is a 'ALLEGED' cheap chiseling little crook (thanks Ken for that one!).
Maybe this explains why she (in parcticular) was so adamant about keeping MP's expenses secret.
If she had a shred of decency both she and Crash would resign.
Papers please Citizen Voter Smith!
- Ethan, UK, 09/02/2009 15:23
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this is not a home secretary at all, more a branch manager of mcdonalds. & who taught these ministers to grin maniacally? smiths it is only marginally less psychotic than browns.
- Alembic, United Kingdom, 09/02/2009 15:15
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It comes to something when even the Home Secretary is manipulating the rules. She should have resigned after the raid on Damian Green's office. Now she should be investigated by the police for Fraud but presumably they cannot impartially investigate their boss. If she clings to office rather than resign it is just another example of a government that is morally, financially and intellectually bankrupt clutching at its last few moments of power. Brown is of course far too weak to force her out.
- Ian, London, 09/02/2009 15:14
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This woman is a joke.This is theft claiming for something you are not receiving.Labour are so SLIMY.
- Edwina, croydon UK, 09/02/2009 15:10
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How you Brits allow yourselves to be walked over by your elected representatives. They treat you with contempt and you just go on asking for more. The great multi Billion pound bank bail out 'rescue plan' is a good example. Why don't you fools ask for a show of hads from your MP's and Lords and Ladies as to which of them are payed by the banks and will get a cut of your money as a bonus. Yoy and your offspring will be paying that particular scam off for years. Good Luck J Smith your people love you.
- Rick, Canterbury, 09/02/2009 15:10
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Full approval from a system which they set up and control,its a sick joke, no shame whatsoever just nose in the trough and blatent greed.
- Mark Devries, Bangkok Thailand, 09/02/2009 14:54
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But people still go out and vote at elections, even though the system is run by thieves, liars and frauds.
- Neil M., london uk,, 09/02/2009 14:25
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How else are politians going to redistribute wealth in a society that rewards failure?
- With Smoke Coming Out Of My Ears, London, 09/02/2009 14:20
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More and more people are waking up to the <i>'one rule for the political class and another for the rest of us'</i>.
Rewarding yourself 2.5 times the average salary, a gold plated pension when others are losing their pensions, amazing redundancy terms and tax free expenses that would be illegal in any firm while trying their best to keep expenses secret, has resulted in a totally disaffected electorate who feel powerless to do anything about it.
And the political class wonder why!
- Alfred, Swindon, UK, 09/02/2009 13:53
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I trust HM Revenue & Customs have the cajones to see if the Home Secretary's sister has made the appropriate declaration on her tax return.
Also, it appears that Smith has lied about her principal residence being in London rather than the marital home. How can her main residence possibly be a rented room in her sisters house when her husband and kids live oop north...her husband of course trousers £40k per year from her office expenses.
It is so typical of Gnu Labour hypocrisy that they expect bankers to forgo bonuses to which they may be contractually entitled, but claim that Smiths has done nothing wrong because she is only claiming what she is entitled to claim.
Double standards or what?
- Inoff The Red, London UK, 09/02/2009 13:12
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There has never been a worse Home Secretary since the last World War.
- Michael, London, 09/02/2009 12:51
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If I claimed expenses whilst staying at a friend or relative's home, not only would I be in breach of any reasonable company's expense policy, but I would also be liable to pay tax on this extra income.
Why do MPs think that they can get away with claiming this salary top-up, funded at the taxpayers' expense? There are far more deserving causes for the £24k a year that each of the 646 trough-munchers claim.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 09/02/2009 12:31
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You can't trust the MP for anything can you?
Some of the MPs lack total personal integrity. Don't they have shame. Where are the trust?
We have bankers paying themselves hugh bonuses for running loss making organisation. We have MPs, PM and others unable to do their job properly and are still in office.
In a normal company, one do not get a bonus if the company you're working for is not making a healthy profit, you will be lucky if you still have a job. And certainly one will be removed from office for failures.
- Max, Isleworth, 09/02/2009 12:15
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She has been totally ineffectual as home secretary and must be removed from office.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 09/02/2009 12:03
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The time is long overdue for every Taxpayer in the UK to protest.I suggest an ANTI_CORRUPTION MARCH to the Houses of Parliament.It would ge great if everyone turned up, dressed as Guy Fawkes.
- Frank, Bristol UK, 09/02/2009 11:55
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Ms Smith "might" (????) have complied with the letter of the law when claiming these expenses, but morally her actions are indefensible.
By the way can anyone say if these expenses are treated by the Inland Revenue as a "benefit in kind" and so taxed??? Bet you they are not!!
Also Ms Smith should remember that if she sells her Worcestershire home she will be liable for Capital Gains Tax as her Primary Residence is wiht her sister!!! Bet she will wriggle out of that one too!!!!
- Jeremy E, London, 09/02/2009 11:19
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We can now understand what the political correct Labour party is all about. These trendy wealthy lefties living in a Micky Mouse world and don't give a damn about you.
Thats the beauty of socialism one rule for them and another for the nobodys.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 09/02/2009 10:54
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