Morning:
8°c
Clegg acts on ‘speculators’ after MP’s daughter uses flat bought on expenses
Joe Murphy13 May 2009
Nick Clegg pledged action against any Liberal Democrat MP who behaved like a “property speculator” with Commons expenses.
The party leader spoke out after Liberal Democrat expenses were put under the spotlight, forcing some MPs to repay claims.
Mr Clegg is repaying £80 he claimed for phone calls to friends as far afield as South America and South East Asia, while home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne is paying back £119 claimed for a mahogany trouser press.
Housing spokesman Lembit Opik said he would refund £40 he claimed for a court summons received for not paying his council tax. The most striking allegation made by today's Daily Telegraph was that MP Andrew George claimed £847 a month from taxpayers in mortgage interest on a £300,000 Rotherhithe flat used as a “bolt-hole” by his student daughter Morvah, 21.
The insurance policy on the flat included in his expenses claim was in her name. Mr George denied she spent more time there than him. Mr Clegg backed the denial by Mr George, the MP for St Ives, that he had done anything wrong. Other party members under scrutiny include:
How the Lib-Dems spent their cash
The former leader hired an interior designer to refurbish his rented flat in Dolphin Square at a cost of £10,000. Claims included blinds, scatter cushions and a loo brush;
Chris Huhne
The home affairs spokesman charged taxpayers to paint a pergola and replace the rope on a swing chair in the garden of his constituency home in Eastleigh, Hampshire, one of seven properties he owns. As well as the trouser press, he also claimed for a photo of himself.
Nick Clegg
The party leader's claims included private phone calls to Colombia and Vietnam, and the cost of garden building and repair work. He also charged for mortgage, stamp duty and legal costs to buy a second home which he fitting with a kitchen and decorations. Mr Clegg insisted none of his MPs had been caught milking the system by “flipping” their designated main home.
He said: “I will come down like a ton of bricks on any MP who has sought to defraud the taxpayer or profit for personal gain in the property market. “So far, to my knowledge, not a single Liberal Democrat MP has committed the biggest abuse which has emerged in the revelations over the last few days, and that is flipping from one home to the other to avoid capital gains tax and to make a big personal profit.”
Mr Clegg has already announced that his MPs must repay any capital gains from selling a second home. He said: “The only long-term solution is to stop MPs from buying and selling properties on the property market altogether. We are MPs, not property speculators.”
Among other claims by Liberal Democrat MPs, Treasury spokeswoman Julia Goldsworthy reportedly spent thousands shortly before the deadline for using the second home allowance on items including a leather rocking chair from furniture store Heal's.
Lib-Dem expenses: Nick Clegg, Sir Menzies Campbell, Chris Huhne and Andrew George
Reader views (20)
Mickyinlondon, a wonderful well spoken blogger on the evening standard, is correct in all that they write: factual and to the point.
The biggest thing that upsets me in all this, is when you think of the ghastly, stupid, off on another planet policies they thought of whilst calculating their expenses monthly.
These corrupt people have sold our kids and families down the drain. For us normal people, who live on planet earth, it's a fact, our children have more rights than us parents thanks to this Government. You wonder why we can't control our kids - were not allowed to because if we dare say the wrong thing it's classified as ABUSE.
Our whole Country has to go right back to basics, back to how it was minimum 30 years ago - parents allowed to rule family - not other way round; an honest days pay for an honest days work; a house a home not a money spinner;affordable housing so mothers can stay at home with kids if they choose whilst partner works; RESPECT to all fellow human beings-young and old. All kids out of school OR work compelled to sign up for the Military FROM 16 years of age - they'll get free housing and earn the dole money! Yes I'm harsh (and only 46 years old)but if we don't stop the rot all over now how on earth can we get this country on track?
Finally a complete overall of our benefit system as attracting people to these shores solely to free load off the tax payer. Enough all round - it's all wrong.
A PM THAT HAS GUTS TO SAY NO!
- Tm, London, 13/05/2009 21:05
Report abuse
MPs earn 64 thousand a year and on average claim 20 thousand for second home allowances that is too much!! the greedy devils still want more...we need to clear them all out bring in a new style ogf government and allow no claims for second homes furniture food etc..just a salary and as they have all been at it they should take a pay cut..God help our country!!
- Jean, London England, 13/05/2009 17:07
Report abuse
The whole rotten system needs to be dismantled from top to bottom and in future all expenditure on second homes etc must be paid for out of the politicians own substantial salaries. The rest of us have to. Fish and chips must do, instead of pricey restaurant meals and a hall of residence must be found or Built. If that is not acceptable then don't stand for election to Parliament
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 13/05/2009 16:31
Report abuse
The fundamental problem with this 'slow release' is the fact that the Telegraph is keeping the 'raw data' close to its chest while it interprets, slants and filters things it to its advantage.
Surely the best thing to do would be for the Commons to immediately release the information to all other papers so we can have a proper debate and allow for a balanced picture to emerge? The Telegraph is engaging in a rather cynical exploitation of public anger, and their rather unjustified accusations against Andrew George is a good example of this. Release all the data, and give us a fair picture!
I'm not denying that there aren't dodgy MP's but the Telegraph is mercilessly trying to milk as much anger out of this as possible...To them, this isin't about public anger, its about using public anger to boost their flagging popularity and sagging circulation.
- Ed, London, 13/05/2009 16:30
Report abuse
Ed, re Andrew George flat for student daughter, I stand corrected.
But stick with Mickeyinlondon that fraud is fraud and such crime must be punished.
- Goggs, London, 13/05/2009 15:43
Report abuse
Before anybody such as 'Goggs' jumps to conclusions on Andrew George and the hearsay 'information' on his expenses paid flat - from the Telegraph, perhaps they should ask many more questions. If Miss George indeed lives there it does not mean her father has bought the flat on expenses for her. It could mean that he is being a good father and that he stays there as well. Families do such things when they are functional families that is. Do you know how far it is from Helston to London? I do, as I used to live beyond there in West Penwith....about 300. Andrew George is a highly respected and liked figure in Cornwall and has been for a long time. Perhaps the Telegraph is smearing him as he is not a Tory? It is all very well jumping on the bandwagon but get your facts straight and have proof which is really clear, or there will be law suits flying about in the not too distant future. Also members of the public simply gush and groan about everything as if they are experts when they are simply reacting to the limited facts they are being presented with by the rag of the moment. I do not like sleaze any more than the next person but having met Andrew George I think I am more qualified to say these things than people who have not. I am not apprised of all the facts, in the same way that the Telegraph and its supporters are also not -but my gut tells me that I cannot believe the aspersion that he is a dishonest person. He has worked long and very hard for his constituency.
- Ac, London, London, 13/05/2009 15:37
Report abuse
Before anybody such as 'Goggs' jumps to conclusions on Andrew George and the hearsay 'information' on his expenses paid flat - from the Telegraph, perhaps they should ask many more questions. If Miss George indeed lives there it does not mean her father has bought the flat on expenses for her. It could mean that he is being a good father and that he stays there as well. Families do such things when they are functional families that is. Do you know how far it is from Helston to London? I do, as I used to live beyond there in West Penwith....about 300. Andrew George is a highly respected and liked figure in Cornwall and has been for a long time. Perhaps the Telegraph is smearing him as he is not a Tory? It is all very well jumping on the bandwagon but get your facts straight and have proof which is really clear, or there will be law suits flying about in the not too distant future. Also members of the public simply gush and groan about everything as if they are experts when they are simply reacting to the limited facts they are being presented with by the rag of the moment. I do not like sleaze any more than the next person but having met Andrew George I think I am more qualified to say these things than people who have not. I am not apprised of all the facts, in the same way that the Telegraph and its supporters are also not -but my gut tells me that I cannot believe the aspersion that he is a dishonest person. He has worked long and very hard for his constituency.
- Ac, London, London, 13/05/2009 15:23
Report abuse
Lol, just think about the way that Regional Assemblies [another EU construct] are controlling local government, details being hidden in this smokescreen.
All MP's are in fact Limited Companies, check this out and smell the daisies!!!
- William, Haywards Heath UK, 13/05/2009 15:22
Report abuse
I wonder when will we see Boris Johnson's "additional expenses" record.
He was the highest recorded spender as reported by the "They Work for You" web-site - topping the table AND claiming over £20K on them in each of the two years leading up to his election as Mayor. (This information is already in the public domain.)
BUT he writes for the Telegraph and his expenses have not yet been reported.
Is there a link between these facts or am I just being cynical?
- Celia Blair, Wandsworth London, 13/05/2009 14:45
Report abuse
If we the public had not paid some tax on time, we would be subject to high Inland Revenue interest rates plus penalties which can be 100% of the sum owed. Also, they would go back six years (not four as suggested by Brown). If there was fraud, as in the case of MP expenses, they would be arrested and put on the police National DNA database, then the Inland Revenue would go back 20 years. How come its one law for the public and another for the MP's. Especially when it is the MP's that have voted for the laws on the public. This cannot be right.
Also apart from outright fraud, there is also the additional charge of massive hypocrisy and double standards, what penalty for that?
- John Smythe, London, 13/05/2009 14:43
Report abuse
I bet they wish they had got away with hushing it up, are we supposed to be pleased that they pay it back once caught, it would be prison for the likes of us
- Peter Woods, Romford, 13/05/2009 12:39
Report abuse
Goggs, you've been misled by a rather malicious Telegraph. Andrew George owns 1/3 of the flat- paid out of his own pocket, and the Telegraph got it completely wrong on who actually lives there- they spent days camped outside and couldn't conclusively prove his daughter had actually lived there. Read his statement on his website, it clears a lot of things up-
Taken From http://www.andrewgeorge.org.uk/index.php
Fact 1: We purchased nearly 1/3 of the flat ourselves and bought half of the furniture and fittings without making a claim from taxpayers' money.
Fact 2: My daughter was living in a student hall of residence elsewhere in London throughout the period of the claim the Telegraph refers to. Before that she lived elsewhere in London - not in my flat.
Fact 3: They didn't tell their readers that they sent a snooper around to my flat for the whole morning but failed to get a picture of my daughter leaving it.
Fact 4: I have long argued that MPs should not be able to "profit" from the allowance regime and that we should be required to sell our flats back at cost and give back furniture so that Parliament could build up a portfolio of furnished flats to rent back to MPs.
Fact 5: As I own 1/3 of the flat anyway I believe that it is reasonable for me to allow any member of my family to visit or stay in the spare room at any time.
- Ed, London, 13/05/2009 12:34
Report abuse
well end of the corrupt labour government worse than the last thatcherite government breing on a national goverment of unity next year at the election with the tories and lib dems in unity nad keeping those labourers(the currnet government in opposition)
- Haf 1, bermondsey,london, 13/05/2009 11:12
Report abuse
If you look very carefully (and hold back your rightful outrage for a moment) this doesn't seem quite as bad as having your swimming pool done up on expenses (Tories) or flipping property (Labour).....Good thing they're refunding the taxpayer though. And Richard K, that's 6 MP's out of 65, which is not 20%......
- Ed, London, 13/05/2009 10:43
Report abuse
Mickyinlondon puts it so well. The MPs caught with their hands in the till are no better than the benefit fraudsters they relentlessly hunt down and seek to punish.
If they think that we have been fooled by their belated and insincere apologies they can think again. How on earth did Andrew George buy a London flat on expenses for use by his student daughter???
All I can say is thanks to the 'leak' and the Telegraph for opening our eyes to this blatant exploitation of the system by those who really should have known better. I do have some sympathy for the honest MPs being tarred by the same brush.
- Goggs, London, 13/05/2009 10:14
Report abuse
We have a very flawed prime minister and the most corrupt government imaginable, and Blears' belatedly paying CGT on the sale of the flat which we tax payers paid for and furnished is merely a token gesture. Will Smith be made repay the £116,000 of tax payers money she has claimed whilst lodging in her sister's spare room? I look forward to their complete humiliation when they are wiped out at the next election, hopefully having firstly repaid every penny they have fraudulently claimed.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 13/05/2009 10:03
Report abuse
Yes, if a country's leaders are shown to be as low as a snake's belly instead of people with integrity whose behaviour is exemplary, everything goes down the plug hole.
Left-wing politics is fuelled by resentment and envy and right-wing politics is fuelled by arrogance, greed and treating the people less fortunate than the right-wing politicians like dispensable dirt.
Both are bad, but left-wing politics does the worst damage because it seeks constantly to lower everything to the lowest common denominator, so nothing can rise to any height and by association with it lift the whole society.
- Eric Legge, Ongar, Essex, 13/05/2009 09:58
Report abuse
- Mickyinlondon, london. Agree with you 100% mate.
- G S Randall, hatfield, herts, 13/05/2009 09:56
Report abuse
Given the LibDems are so in favour of Proportional Representation I calculate that 20% of their MP's so far have been named and shamed. Does this make them the sleaziest party in Westminster?
- Richard K, Nottingham, 13/05/2009 09:21
Report abuse
Like with all dole cheats of the lower and lesser educated classes; MPs should be charged and bought before the British Justice System if they are proved to be expense account fraudsters; you can't have one law for the poorer dole cheats; and another law for the well paid, and well educated, expense account fraudsters of government or business etc.
Fraud is fraud; and a crime that should be punished under the full force of the law; to just pay back a part of the fraud, once the fraudster is caught, is to say carry on, and don’t worry about being punished for your total dishonesty and your lack of integrity; if you are one of the upper ruling classes; we will only ask you for the small part of your fraud profits back, which were proved correct, and your criminal record will not show the real character you are etc.
All I see from this government corruption by MPs; is a slap on the wrist, and get out of jail free etc.
You can fool some of the people all of the time; and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time; so it is said; Politicians think they really can fool us all of the time; but they are only fooling themselves.
If you wonder why the British Nation has lost its morality; just look at the Nations Leaders, and there is your answer; you have all be sold out by them for the last 30 years.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 13/05/2009 08:07
Report abuse
