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‘Mrs Expenses’ told to repay £4,583 for letters
Rashid Razaq15.05.09
A London MP nicknamed “Mrs Expenses” has blundered again after she was ordered to repay thousands of pounds for misusing parliamentary stationery.
Health minister Ann Keen has been reprimanded for using official House of Commons notepaper for mail shots to constituents about coffee mornings. The Brentford and Isleworth MP has now reimbursed the £4,583 cost of the letters after a complaint to the parliamentary ombudsman by a constituent.
At least five different letters were sent out to hundreds of homes on a range of non-Commons business from inviting voters to a tea and coffee morning to issues about a local park and an update on Heathrow's third runway consultation.
In one letter dated 21 October 2008, Mrs Keen writes: “In response to the large number of calls and letters I've had from people in your area, I'll be holding another tea and coffee morning near you.
“I want to make it easier for you to say hello' and to tell me about things that make life better for you or your neighbours, no matter how trivial it might seem.”
Ann Berkane, a cashier who lives in the borough, alerted the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards after receiving the letters. Ms Berkane, 66, said: “It's outrageous. I was stunned at the cost. But it's completely typical of her when you look at her record on expenses.
“You don't hear from her for five years but when then there's an election coming up and she's worried about losing her seat she's everywhere. It's disgusting when you know how many poor people live in the borough and she's spending that much money sending out unsolicited letters.”
Under parliamentary rules, ministers are only permitted to use pre-paid House of Commons envelopes and headed paper when they are replying to a constituent who has already written to them. Mrs Keen blamed a junior member of her staff for sending out the letters without her knowledge.
She said: “A new member of staff sent our correspondence to constituents on a range of issues, including Heathrow Airport, by mistake and without my knowledge at the time. The correspondence was sent out on House of Commons instead of constituency stationary. When it was brought to my attention I immediately refunded the cost.”
It comes after Mrs Keen and her MP husband were revealed to have claimed £213,000 of taxpayers' money for a second home in the capital. Dubbed “Mr and Mrs Expenses” records showed they have claimed for the second property since 2001 despite having a house in Brentford, only a 23-minute commute from Westminster.
Mrs Keen was also shown to have claimed the most expenses of any British MP, charging £167,306, including £18,338 for the couple's £500,000 second home on the South Bank. Mr Keen, who represents Feltham and Heston, claimed £19,855 for the same second home.
Reader views (7)
Aggghhhaaa Can these people not understand that there are people being evicted from their homes,becoming unemployed,and generally suffering from the mismanagement of our economy.
Bring in the police and the Taxman to investigate this lot without delay.NO IF`S NO BUT`S.
- Crillbo, Liverpool UK
On top of their blatant manipulation of the expenses system, they apparently employ their son David as a case worker for an undisclosed sum - who knows how much this family is raking in every year from the taxpayer. It's scandalous.
- Karl, Brentford
Would suggest that the Commissionar for Standards has a look at all MPs because a large number of them are using this very same process, certainly in the East End of London, Barking, Newham and Tower Hamlets for a start.
- Lizzy, Newham
There are quite a few 'flipping' husband-and-wife teams in the Labour government who are getting very, very rich with taxpayers' money. So, really, who's paying the tea and coffee apart from the notepapers here?
- K Lee, Cheshunt, UK
This woman is my MP. I am ashamed to say that I have voted for her in the past, but now we've all seen her shameless abuse of the public purse in order to feather her own nest I'm going to do something I've never done before and vote Tory in 2010.
She knows she's bound to lose so no doubt Gordon has lined her up a cushy job with BAA post election to thank her for going against her constituents wishes and voting for a 3rd runway at Heathrow.
- Rich, Isleworth
JOE PUBLIC NEEDS A GENERAL ELECTION NOW.
THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION FINDS MP's GUILTY AND THE HOUSE OF CONMEN SHOULD BE CLOSED FORTHWITH.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK
Most MPs are the scum of the earth - corrupt, fraudulent, and not fit for purpose. Their abuse of the expenses system is despicable. I feel nothing but contempt for them.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
