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Moat expenses MP says sorry and steps down
Paul Waugh19 May 2009
The Tory MP who claimed for clearing the moat at his country estate said today he is to stand down at the next general election.
Douglas Hogg announced he was quitting as it emerged that Tory and Labour MPs will be culled over the expenses scandal. A day after David Cameron warned he would de-select errant MPs, Gordon Brown declared that no Labour minister or backbencher who abused the system would be allowed to stand at the next election.
Mr Hogg, who initially denied then admitted claiming money to clear the moat, came to symbolise the excesses of the MPs' expenses system. In a statement, the former agriculture minister, said that he was making clear his intentions in order to give his local constituency party in Lincolnshire time to select a candidate for the election.
“I entirely understand the public anger that has erupted over expenses. The current system is deeply flawed; we parliamentarians have got it wrong and I apologise for that failure which is both collective and personal.”
His decision came as the Prime Minister 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. A new poll of Labour activists shows a majority want the premier to step down and Health Secretary Alan Johnson to take his place. The Prime Minister'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 “scrutiny panel”, will give the Chief Whip, party general secretary and constituency parties the power to refer MPs for an investigation.
Elliot Morley and David Chaytor, who have both been suspended over claims for mortgages, will be the first to face the new body. Suspended justice minister Shahid Malik, who claimed £66,000 over three years on a London home while renting a “main home” for an alleged £100 a week, also faces disciplinary action.
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.
Government whip Claire Ward was today accused of submitting 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.
Downing Street also faced embarrassment 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. Ms Butler, 39, said the £800 she received did not include a claim for the whirlpool bath.
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 (4)
Nick Brown claimed, without any receipts!, £18,800.00 FOR FOOD in four years.
A pensioner in the UK is very lucky to have that amount to exist on in THREE YEARS.
My MP Geraldine Smith (Morecambe and Lunesdale) claimed £249.00 for a TABLE LAMP on expenses. She explains that such an item would be "standard" in any home.
MP's are definitely living in cloud cuckoo land.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK, 16/07/2009 12:13
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Does this mean that he will still be entitled to a resettlement allowance of up to 100 per cent of salary?
- Goggs, London, 16/07/2009 11:13
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"Anyone know whether there is going to be a police (CPS) enquiry into all of this?"
I believe so, but it's quite a delicate matter as far as the CPS is concerned.
We're all sick and tired of hearing that MPs acted "within the rules", but the fact is that most of them did - so it's probably only the really dodgy cases (claiming for an already paid-off mortgage, for instance) that can be turned into indictable charges.
But it seems to me that you'll have difficulty constructing a convincing case for prosecuting people for exploiting a flawed system, especially when they were not merely authorised but actively encouraged by the Fees Office to do so.
- Michael, London, 16/07/2009 11:13
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Anyone know whether there is going to be a police (CPS) enquiry into all of this?
- Jb, London, 16/07/2009 11:13
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