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'Nannygate' MP cleared of sleaze
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor03.03.09
SENIOR Tory Caroline Spelman is set to keep her shadow cabinet job after a report into the "Nannygate" affair found her guilty only of inadvertent breaches of Commons rules.
Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon was mildly critical of her but concluded there were "grey areas" on current rules, sources said.
The MP claimed assistant Tina Haynes was paid with public funds for secretarial work between 1997 and 1998, and her nannying duties were rewarded separately.
But last year Ms Haynes said her official duties amounted only to posting letters, taking the "odd phone call" and passing on messages "once or twice a week".
David Cameron is not expected to reprimand her. She will remain as shadow communities secretary, insiders say.
Reader views (2)
This happened over 10 years ago - yes 10 years which wasn't highlighted on ITN last night and is the best that Labour can dig up on the Conservatives..? Sounds desperate to me. 10K is small fry compared to all the £'s that NuLab have squandered. 'Others' can get away with wasting much more on so called second homes. Quite pathetic really.
- Whydowebother, London
Why do these Nu Labor guys from Crash Gordon think they are better than the taxpayer?!??
- Steveo, London, NW1
