Morning:
14°c
Brown warns MPs to expect disciplinary action
Paul Waugh18.05.09
Gordon Brown warned MPs who abuse their expenses to expect disciplinary action today amid suggestions that hundreds could be forced to retire.
The Prime Minister spoke out after ordering an investigation into allegations that Labour backbencher Ben Chapman had made “phantom” mortgage claims.
Chief Whip Nick Brown was seeking clarification from Mr Chapman and from the Commons Fees Office after it emerged that he was paid £15,000 in mortgage interest despite having paid off a big chunk of a loan on his London home.
Many MPs expected that Mr Chapman would be suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party, as happened to David Chaytor and Elliot Morley who continued claiming mortgage interest after paying off loans.
Ministerial aide Rob Marris today called for an early general election to clear the air in the wake of the expenses scandal.
He said: “I think we are going to have an early general election on this issue and that's not a bad thing.”
Another Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle said the saga would have widespread consequences for MPs of all parties, with many fearing deselection.
“I think we will see a huge number of MPs who are not going to stand at the next general election,” Mr Hoyle said.
The Prime Minister said he had been “angered and appalled” by the expenses affair as “I was brought up to believe that we must have the best standards in public life”.
He added: “So there has got to be fundamental change. We are no longer talking about papering over the cracks.”
Mr Brown said that “where there are failings and where people are responsible, they have to accept that there will be disciplinary action.”
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today said that “people are going to be really furious” at the latest disclosures.
He told GMTV: “Anyone would be seeing what's coming out of the woodwork. It's completely fair for the public to feel angry.”
The Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Chapman continued claiming for a high rate of mortgage interest despite paying off a £295,000 chunk of his mortgage.
His claims remained unchanged even though his payments dropped from £1,900 a month to £447. The practice stopped in 2004.
The MP told officials his decision to pay off three-quarters of his mortgage left him with a problem because “by paying off capital I am forgoing interest and investment opportunities elsewhere”. He and a Fees Office official “thus agreed that the mortgage should remain for ACA (Additional Cost Allowance) purposes at the original amount”.
Emails between officials suggested that there was a widespread practice of allowing MPs to receive “phantom” payments.
Speaking outside his Lambeth home this morning, Wirral MP Mr Chapman said: “Whatever I've done, I've been entirely open and above board with the authorities and Parliament and I'm distressed that this has occurred. I'm now going in to discuss it with them and see what the situation is.”
A Church of England bishop today called for MPs fiddling their expenses to be axed.
The Bishop of Lichfield, the Right Reverend Jonathan Gledhill, said: “What's important is that it is not so much the system, it's the people. And some people just need to be sacked.”
Luton South constituency Labour party has ruled out deselecting MP Margaret Moran, who claimed £22,500 for dry rot at a property in Southampton.
TV presenter Esther Rantzen has said she might stand against her.
Reader views (3)
If Joe Public makes a false claim for benefits they DO NOT face "disciplinary" action. THEY ARE ARRESTED, FINGERPRINTED, PHOTOGRAPHED, DNA'd, CHARGED, PUT IN COURT AND SENT TO PRISON.
Gormless Brown and Gorbals Mick and others of that ilk are doing their very best to refer the matter of MP's fiddling their expenses to this "committee" and to that "committee" - and we are informed that the Kelly Report will not be made public until the "Autumn".
It is crystal clear that Brown and Martin DO NOT understand the public anger over MP's ripping-off the taxpayer.
WHAT WE NEED IS ACTION. WE NEED ACTION TODAY, NOT IN THE AUTUMN.
THE QUEEN NEEDS TO DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT NOW.
JOE PUBLIC NEEDS A GENERAL ELECTION NOW.
JOE PUBLIC NEEDS AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE SPIN AND WAFFLE, SMOKE AND MIRRORS IN THE HOUSE OF CONMEN.
WHERE ARE THE POLICE?
WHERE ARE THE HANDCUFFS?
WHY IS THERE ONE LAW FOR THE PUBLIC AND A DIFFERENT LAW FOR MP's?
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK
Loony-Labour are such a lose immoral bunch the lack of discipline throughout their torrid tenure has blighted Britain for years to come. However, that was what Blair/Brown really wanted, destruction of the English way of life.
- Mike, London
in the past the disciplinary action most m.p.'s endured
was a visit to an s'&'m recreation center.
in this case Brown will no doubt allow them to claim on
the expenses for their punishment.
simply saying sorry and being suspended for a few months
will not do and certainly won't a sway public anger.
- Mike O'Brien, london.uk
