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Gordon Brown sets up punishment panel for expense cheats
Paul Waugh19.05.09
Labour MPs are facing mass expulsions today after Gordon Brown finally got tough over the expenses scandal.
He ordered the creation of a “star chamber” with the power to kick out or de-select any MP guilty of claiming too much. The original Star Chamber dished out summary justice at the Palace of Westminster from Henry VII to Charles I.
As Labour's ruling National Executive Committee met to discuss the crisis, Mr Brown made clear the body was aimed at “setting new standards and demanding tough action”.
Mr Brown was forced into the move after furious party members demanded a display of leadership to meet the tide of public anger. A new poll of Labour activists shows a majority want the Premier to step down.
The Standard has learned that Elliot Morley and David Chaytor, who have both been suspended over claims for mortgages, will be the first to face the new body. Mr Brown's decision to make it easier to kick out MPs came after a rash of new revelations about claims for whirlpool baths, holiday cottages and bumper food bills made by his government whips.
The Labour panel, similar to David Cameron's own “scrutiny panel”, will allow the Chief Whip, party general secretary and constituency parties the power to refer MPs for an investigation that could lead to their expulsion. Among MPs facing disciplinary action are Shahid Malik, who claimed £66,000 over three years on a London home while renting a “main home” for an alleged £100 a week.
Others include Ben Chapman, who was allowed to claim £15,000 over 10 months for mortgage that no longer existed, and Hazel Blears, who has repaid £13,000 in capital gains tax.
Jack Straw has repaid council tax after claiming single person's discount on a home he told the Commons was his “main home”.
Government whip Claire Ward was today accused of submitting monthly expense claims for hundreds of pounds of “petty cash” while claiming maximum allowances. Ms Ward, who is responsible for keeping the Queen informed about Parliament, also switched her second home designation by moving to a flat a few minutes' walk from her old property.
To get back on the front foot over the MPs expenses affair, the Prime Minister is also set to unveil plans to strip the Commons of administration of MPs expenses, handing the duty to an outside statutory body.
Mr Brown has been reluctant to give activists the green light for automatic re-selection races for all seats, but has been warned that his own leadership is on the line if he fails to act.
In an ominous move, a poll of Labour activists found that 62 per cent want Mr Brown to stand down before the general election. The LabourList website found that Alan Johnson is the clear favourite to replace him.
Paul Kenny, the general secretary of the GMB union and a key member of the NEC, told Radio 4's Today programme: “I think there is pretty clear evidence that a whole number of people need to be subjected to their electorate again. I am saying they should be re-submitted.
“The NEC today is the ideal vehicle to say we want a re-selection, or deselection in some cases, procedure that has at its heart the issue of, Did you make money?' “I'm afraid the Nuremberg defence of, We were only following the rules' won't wash.
“If you can't pass the basic test of being re-selected by your own party people, your own workers who have to go out and work for you on the doorstep, what chance do you think you have got of winning that seat or retaining that seat for any particular party?
Downing Street faced embarrassment today as it emerged that Chief Whip Nick Brown had claimed £18,800, without receipts, for food bills over four years. Another government whip, Dawn Butler, claimed £800 towards the cost of a new bathroom suite that included a whirlpool bath.
Ms Butler, MP for Brent South, claimed additional costs allowance despite the fact that her two homes, one in Brent and one in Stratford, are a few miles apart and are almost equidistant from the Commons.
Ms Butler, 39, submitted receipts for a £2,308 bathroom suite but insisted that the £800 she received did not include a claim for the whirlpool bath. “I totally refute the allegation that I claimed for a whirlpool. I am taking advice on legal action,” she said. “There is nothing underhand here in any of my claims. All the claims are for legitimate expenditure.”
Among other Labour whips, the Daily Telegraph said that Stephen McCabe over-claimed on his mortgage by £4,059; Diana Johnson spent £1,000 of taxpayers' money on hiring an architect for a decorating project at her second home; and Helen Goodman claimed for a week's stay in a holiday cottage in her constituency.
Patrick McLoughlin, the Conservative Chief Whip, was said to have claimed £3,000 for the fitting of new windows at his second home.
Reader views (38)
Firstly I fear that there will be several "small fry" scape-goats that will let the big fish get away with it.
It annoys me that they are allowed to claim for items like redecorating or plumbing, when they already earn in excess of £64k a year any way! If I tried to put these items on my expenses I would probably be sacked.
As for all the high tech items that have been expensed, why do they need TV's etc to carry out their work in London. A TV is not a vital item that without they would die....like food for example.
I can appreciate that they should be reimbursed for genuine expenditure that they have to carry out their jobs, but they signed up to be MP's so things like travel costs to London should NOT be included. Surely they earn enough anyway to pay for it themselves. We don't get paid to travel to work! If they had to pay themselves then maybe they would do something about the extortionate amount that public transport/fuel costs.
Who can say that we wouldn't do the same if we were in the same position, however, my concern is that there is a basic lack of understanding regards what is right and wrong (from people who should be leading the way!). Surely they can determine what is fair and appropriate?
Obviously not....maybe it's time to go to Australia....
- Mark, Hampshire, Hook, UK
Brown should be the first to go. This repugnant little man is nothing but a crook.
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire
Brown has very shrewdly said those who have broken the rules will not be chosen not those who have "broken the spirit of the rules" which appears to leave plenty of wriggle room to retain some leading faudsters.
Howsoever :
Jacqui Smith broke the rules with her husband's blue movies.
Straw broke the rules with his Council Tax "mistake".
If Brown meant it that is two down and counting.
- P Doff, luton
it just goes to show you give them respect and all they do in return is line there pockets this all theft and fraud bring in the police now
- Barry, halifax west yorks
I understand that all of these headlines appear to disguise one proposal.
If we all get so fed up with the constant barage of media hype - we will miss the fact that MP's including the leaders appear to heading for an arrangement with an external body (independent?) to manage their expenses claims
This would then remove OUR RIGHTS to access as this data will then presumable fall under the data protection rights.
I think if I was an MP that would suit me just fine - It would be even better if a few could get themesleves on the board of this body as non execs to make sure that things were handled properly...
- Jsbnth, Bournemouth, UK
Surely this is not fresh news to Brown - there is no way that this has come as any surprise. Once again he is attempting to headline grab purely because he is caught. Time to resign Brown - nobody wants you not even your own party.
- Sarah Jones, London
I couldn't stop laughing. Do you actually know what you are doing, Brown? You will be setting up a punishment panel for yourself and your hypocritical cheating cronies! What a farce, as usual.
- K Lee, Cheshunt, UK
"
Sloppy accounting" ???The MP should learn how to spell - the correct spelling is CHEATING
- Michael Trask, Sway Lymington Hampshire UK
should not the white light burnt in the clocktower be changed to red to indicate a house of ill repute
- Fred Batchelor, fairlight england
How can politicians get away with these fraudulant claims when the average joe blogs who also works for the goverment would be hung drawn and quartered and then either sacked or worse still sent to prison for claiming fraudulant expences, one rule or no rules for all the politicians and every rule possible for joe Public. As for accomadation why does'nt the goverment purchase a block of apartments in London and all politicion's have no expencies to claim because the goverment would foot the bill.but perhaps that would be to easy. ????????
- Dave Peacock, merseyside
All of the people mentioned above are small-fry compared to an enormous amount of them that have made claims for lare amounts such as the husband and wife who made claims of £141,000 and £131,000 respectively. Those who made these claims should be taken to court for charges of fraud.
- Jennifer Woodham, warminster wilts england
Punishment panel, why not use the law - theft and fraud already exist. When the election comes, we need another line and tick box on the ballot paper that says "none of the above".
- Penny Mccormack, Earls Court, London
It's all too little, too late for this sham 'Democracy'
This country deserves better, much better.
The Lab-Lib-Con Alliance have been rumbled at long last and maybe in the near future we will see a Real General Election, where the people of our once Great Nation will vote for Good, Moral and Honest Independent parties.
- Neil Wilson, Blackpool, UK
Is the Chief Whip who will sit in judgment on Labour MP's expenses the same Chief Whip who has claimed £18,800 for food without receipts? He is? That's all right then. It would surely be churlish to doubt his suitability for the job, wouldn't it?
- David, Edinburgh United Kingdom
So if you or I walked out of a store carrying arms full of goods, would the so-called Law let you off if you agreed to pay?
So if caught now, you just quote the saying, “Well I was only doing that which I was advised”.
It certainly is setting some new precedence as to so-called Law in the UK don’t you think?
Signed Carl Barron Chairnan of agpcuk
- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset
No this is unacceptable, where is Scotland yard fraud squad? Why has the queen not dissolved parliament? THESE PEOPLE CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
- Angel, London
Any news on Tony Blair?
- T, Brigg UK
And he expects us now to believe anything he tells us.
Politics of the UK is a sham, we need a strong movement now to get rid of all the MP's and let the people elect a senate and a President.
Why we should keep paying for these criminals is beyond my belief. They work for us, the people, not themselves.
Many people have been punished for the over payment of tax credits, not their fault. But they are made to feel guilty and to pay it all back. Now MPs say its their right to steal from us, yeh right.
Wake up and smell the coffee UK!
- Tim, Cornwall
If government think students can live of an accomadation loan of about £4500 a year why do MPs need any more?
- Student, bristol
I often wondered what he was on about when he said
'Trans-Pear-Ancy'
Surely this isn't it?
- Ged, Blackheath, London
whats been revealed by the daily telegraph has brought about a scandal for this year but it would be interesting to know how long its been going on for. being a pensioner i put in for a grant of £300-00 payable back weekly.i think they should be sacked or brought to court.all that money claimed could of gone to people who really needed it.but then its politics not policy's mr browns statement made me laugh with him claiming money for his brother for cleaning jobs. there needs to be a clean up with both party's with elections next month.but who the Hell do we vote for??
- William Lyon, swansea
Let's see just how tough our Prime Minister will be.
We need honest MP's with Christian values if we are going to go forward as a nation. We are a laughing stock to the world at present.
We just seem to have a bunch of money grabbing half hearted freeloaders who obviously value their own interests above that of the people who voted them in the first place.
It' time to change and to move on.
- W R Whyte, preston
We do not want to see expulsions. We want to see criminal investigations and those guilty of fraud jailed.
Anyone guilty of "accidentally" claiming too much housing benefit or job seekers allowance would not be allowed to get off with an excuse such as "oh I blame my sloppy accounting practices".
The same law should apply to all.
It is also time for an election so that we can all make our opinions clear.
- Mark Staves, London, United Kingdom
COMPLICATIONS:
LIFE COULD BE SO BEAUTIFUL
IF WE OPENED OUR EYES
WE COULD REALLY LIVE IT
IF WE ONLY TRIED
LIFE COULD BE SO BEAUTIFUL
IF WE STOPPED AND THOUGHT
IF WE COULD THINK OF OTHERS
LOVE THEM AS WE OUGHT
BUT WE MAKE IT COMPLICATED
COMPLICATED ALL THE TIME
COMPLICATED WITHOUT THINKING
COMPLICATED IN IN OUR MINDS
LIFE COULD BEAUTIFUL
IF WE ONLY CARED
IF WE COULD CARE
FOR OTHERS
AS WE DO OURSELVES
IT COULD BE SO WONDEROUS
IF WE ALL HELD HANDS
SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER
AS YOU KNOW WE CAN.
BUT WE MAKE IT COMPLICATED
COMPLICATED ALL THE TIME
COMPLICATED WITHOUT THINKING
COMPLICATED IN IN OUR MINDS
COMPLICATED IN IN OUR MINDS
SEEMS WER'E NEVER HAPPY
WITHOUT OUR COMPLICATIONS
IN OUR LIFE
Chief Whip under fire over £18,000 food claims.
I DID'T EAT YESTERDAY, DID YOU?
CAN'T EAT TODAY, WILL YOU?
DON'T THINK OF ALL TOMORROW'S CAN YOU?
BY: UNKUTTDIAMOND
Chief Whip under fire over £18,000 food claims.
I DID'T EAT YESTERDAY, DID YOU?
CAN'T EAT TODAY, WILL YOU?
DON'T THINK OF ALL TOMORROW'S CAN YOU?
BY: UNKUTTDIAMOND
Mr Brown said that it was "imperative, urgent and important" that there was immediate action now to restore public trust on the expenses system, and Our country.
EASY ' GOODBYE'
- Unkuttdiamond, london
- Unkuttdiamond, london
If Gordo does expel or withdraw the NuLab whip from all the scrounging thieving fiddling NuLab MPs he will lose his majority! Do turkeys vote for Christmas? So this "firm hand" is just another load of spin really isn't it?
- Sandy, Ealing, UK
No wonder our taxes are so high yet public services so mediocre. These grasping politicians just squander the money. There should now be open disclosure of all expenses by all members of both the House of Lords and the House of Commons as well as detailed information provided by senior civil servants. This deception has gone on for far too long and must be stopped.
- Paula Hickman, London E8
It is a bit rich for the unelected Brown to claim the moral high ground when he has been so very closely associated with the disgraced Damian McBride and Charlie Whelan for so many years.There can be no smoke without fire and Brown has form when it comes to playing dirty.
- Chris, London,England
Yet more disgusting news of MPs exploitation of the 'system', yet more blind denial that they've done anything wrong. Still no heads rolling, just more and more lip-service from the leadership. Sack ALL those guilty of exploiting the system for their own gain and send them to court to argue their case. DO NOT allow them to stand in positions of privilege - at the taxpayers expense - ever again.
- Phillip, London
I'll believe it's not a scapegoat job when I see who's on the panel. If it's MP's, bankers,directors and the ilk then I'll stay unconvinced.
- Teller, Norwich UK
No problem about receipts from Nick Brown, look at his photo and you will see that the money on food was well spent.
Gourmet
- Gourmet, Hove England
If Gormless Gordin is going to start sacking expense fiddlers he should start with Jacqui Smith, Ed Balls and his wife Cooper. I just hope that more people do an Esther Rantzen and stand against the corrupt fiddlers at the next election
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi
Any MP found to have been fiddling their expenses should be charged with fraud. It is not good enough for Gordon Brown to talk endlessly about reviews and committees. A crime is a crime and now that these rogues have been discovered it is a matter for the police and the courts.
- Simon Ellis, London
Nick Brown spent £391 of tax payers' money on food each month for four years. I think this government should revisit the pensions paid and unemployment benefits paid and try and get a grip on how people in this country are living while they are living high off the hog on tax payers' money.
Who is going to decide whether MP's have claimed "too much"? The same people who sanctioned these payments in the first place?
- Patricia, LONDON
We now know why A Sugar was there yesterday?
"Your Fired" looks to becoming true.
Only point is that Sugar is a labour boy through and through?
- P. C., rainham. essex.
Gordon is a week leader , all this changes are to little to late, is trying to save is own skin, and i think Martin should stay for the time been , all those MP's who wants him out now they are trying to avoid to answer questions and they are playing clever to. Call a general election now is the right thing to do and start fresh. Gordon to go now ...proooonnntttoooooo !!!!
- Mary Steer, ealing london
We already have "a punishment panel" in this country. It is called the "Magistrates' Court". A "star chamber?!!" The infamous star chamber has been the inspiration for the greatest dictators of all time, such as Mao and Pol Pot and Stalin. Trust this PM never to waste a crisis and as he takes this opportunity to install his dream agency.
- Bloke, London
It is totally unacceptable to allow Whips to sit on this panel as some of them are proving to be as corrupt as the MPs they will be investigating. This calls for rigorous scrutiny of ALL MPs expenses by independent auditors, and those found guilty of making fraudulent/dishonest/unethical claims sacked and new, younger candidates selected to represent the affected constituencies. Brown needs to rid the cesspit of the slimey leeches who are currently inhabiting it.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
More spin and waffle from Gormless Brown.
WHERE ARE THE POLICE?
WHERE ARE THE HANDCUFFS?
WHY ARE MP's BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY TO BENEFIT CHEATS?
WHY CANNOT THIS PARLIAMENT BE DISSOLVED?
WHY CANNOT JOE PUBLIC HAVE A GENERAL ELECTION NOW?
WHY CANNOT GORMLESS BROWN DO THE DECENT THING AND GO TO THE QUEEN AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND STEP DOWN?
JOE PUBLIC WANTS ACTION, NOT SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK
