Morning:
9°c
A Tory grandee who was forced to quit over his expenses claims said today that he is a victim of “jealousy”.
Anthony Steen said voters had no right to know about his £87,000 claims for public funds. The 69-year-old MP for Totnes hit out over revelations of how he used taxpayers' cash to maintain his multi-million-pound Devon home.
Among the items he claimed for were “inspections” of more than 500 trees and guarding his shrubs against rabbits. His home also has a swimming pool and tennis court. Mr Steen confirmed today that he would stand down at the next election — but said it was because voters in his constituency were angry rather than orders from Conservative leader David Cameron.
He told the BBC: “You know what it's about? Jealousy. I have got a very, very large house. Some people say it looks like Balmoral. It's the photographs that make it look like Balmoral, but it's a merchant's house from the 19th century.
“It's not particularly attractive, but it does me nicely... It's got room to grow a few trees.”
Mr Cameron has struggled to contain fresh revelations about his backbenchers' expenses claims. Another grandee, Sir Peter Viggers, will step aside at the next election after it emerged he submitted expense receipts for a floating “duck island” at his country house.
Douglas Hogg, a viscount, will also quit after he claimed for clearing his moat.
Mr Steen lambasted the Government for introducing the Freedom of Information Act that ultimately led to the disclosures. “What right does the public have to interfere with my private life? None,” he said.
The veteran MP, who has been in the Commons since 1974, compared his fate to that of a character in a soap opera: “Do you know what this reminds me of, this whole episode? An episode of Coronation Street. This is a kangaroo court going on.”
He maintained that he “behaved impeccably” but felt it was best to step down, saying: “I had no pressure from the party leader, quite the contrary, he was quite surprised. He didn't understand that I was going to do it. It was a shock to him.”
The Daily Telegraph revealed today that Sir Peter, who lists his interests in Who's Who as opera, travel and trees, included in his expense claims a receipt for a 5ft ornamental floating duck house. Commons officials scrawled “not allowable” next to the invoice.
Tory whip Bill Wiggin today denied that he benefited from claims for more than £11,000 for mortgage interest on a home which had no mortgage.
However, Kensington and Chelsea MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he had stopped using public cash to fly to his Scottish home. The Standard revealed this year that the former foreign secretary claimed nearly £3,000 for flights to Edinburgh.
Mr Cameron reiterated his call for an election, saying it was “insulting” not to give the public a say over the scandal. “What's got to happen is our political system needs to be disinfected,” he said.
Reader views (26)
Only when both Mr. Brown and Mr. Cameron start expelling the bad eggs from Parliament will the public be satisfied, and the worst offenders must be prosecuted. Why should the law of the land be different just because you are am MP?
- F John Horn, Bexley, 23/05/2009 11:53
Report abuse
Consumerism is based on the "politics" of envy - it’s keeping up with the Jones’s.
All the time nowadays people are being encouraged to buy and use thing they don’t really NEED -after all, they’re "worth it", aren’t they?
Of course, an individual is only really "worth it" if they’ve actually made some effort to "earn it"! and of course lax credit has enabled all to acquire what once would have taken the effort to wait and save, as opposed to just maxing out yet another plastic flexible "friend"!
What has really irritated the average decadent consumer is, that they thought, that being an MP endowed their "representative" with some sort of moral code, above the "keeping up with the Jones’s" syndrome - someone in fact that was just a little bit different from the feckless spendaholic and plain greedy...
Now we know that many of them are not, we shouldn’t be too surprised.
- Darius Midwinter, London UK, 22/05/2009 07:48
Report abuse
So sorry that the gravy train has been derailed, Mr Steen, but when it comes to a public servant's expenditure of public money, it really isn't about your private life anymore.
- H, rochford, essex, 22/05/2009 07:43
Report abuse
Private life?
These "expenses" are there to allow our MP to carry out their *public* duties. What do trees and duck islands have to do with being an MP?
Just another rich old geezer seeing an opportunity to bag a little free cash. No doubt if I'd tried to claim income support while working I'd be facing a prison sentence right now.
- Victhebrit, Nara, Japan, 22/05/2009 05:08
Report abuse
And when can we expect to see thye first one of these thieving bastards being arrested, and charged with theft?
Come on Brown, where's yout bottle now?
- Lezli Taubler, London / ENGLAND, 22/05/2009 04:09
Report abuse
"What right does the public have to interfere with" your private life? Every right bozo- when you are squandering the public's tax money on your own selfish greed. Talk about arrogance!
- Fred, Pinellas Park, Fl. USA, 22/05/2009 03:34
Report abuse
This chap is scum. He has lost all touch with reality and deserves what will be coming.
- James, Harrogate, 22/05/2009 00:38
Report abuse
At last the real face of Dodgy Daves Tories. They are equally as bad as Labour/Libdem leeches. Except that these Tory grandees, really believe it is their right to stuff themselves at our expense.
beware people, when you vote in the Tories, it will be more of the same. How can "call me " Dave know what it's like to be us, he is worth millions, he has a priviledged upbringing, and like all old Etonians, he despises us. believe me, they really hate us, and are supported by the fundamentally awful middle class who are petrified of the masses (with reason), and secretely want to be part of the ruling elite.
Don't say you haven't been warned.
- Kerry, Purley, 21/05/2009 22:52
Report abuse
He sounds like a very nice, reasonable and caring chap to me.
- Adrian, London, 21/05/2009 22:14
Report abuse
The poor lamb bless him, everyone's a victim these days aren't they it seems.
- Neil Grinsell, London, 21/05/2009 21:31
Report abuse
Mr Stein should count himself fortunate if he escapes prosecution.
- Crystalclear, london, 21/05/2009 21:19
Report abuse
there's always a resounding thump and a sharp
exclamation of indignation and blame transference when the high and mighty topple from their ivory towers into the common mire of public shame and ridicule.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 21/05/2009 17:51
Report abuse
"The veteran MP, who has been in the Commons since 1974, compared his fate to that of a character in a soap opera: “Do you know what this reminds me of, this whole episode? An episode of Coronation Street. This is a kangaroo court going on.”"- Coronation Street? Hardly! There's more villains in the commons than there ever were in the combined catalogue of "Minder" and "the Sweeney"!
Steen has demonstrated perfectly just how completely out of touch he is.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 21/05/2009 17:51
Report abuse
Heartfelt thanks to Mr Steen for unwittingly illustrating the fundamental issue with crystal clarity.
“What right does the public have to interfere with my private life? None”
Indeed, Mr Steen, and what right do you have to expect the public to contribute to a lifestyle which is beyond most of us?
I feel no jealousy towards such parasitical and venal bahaviour, but I do share the public anger as well as a determination to have it removed from our body politic without delay.
Bring on the election!
- John, Leatherhead, UK, 21/05/2009 17:44
Report abuse
So at last we learn what they really think! They actually do think we owe them a very good living.
It reminds me of "we Tories believe in very good living, and that is going to cost the rest of you a great deal of money".
Good God the sooner we are rid of this load of parasites the better.
- Mike, Guildford, 21/05/2009 17:40
Report abuse
To be fair I am indeed jealous, I wish I could spend my hard earned money on a new TV instead of paying them 40% of my salary in tax so they can buy themselves one each.
- Bob, Cheam, 21/05/2009 17:30
Report abuse
No it is not jealousy. It's about doing your job without stealing tax payers money.
- Victor, London, 21/05/2009 17:17
Report abuse
HE IS DEFINITELY LIVING ON PLANET X - JUST LIKE OTHER MP's WHO THINK AND FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT JOE PUBLIC ARE ALL IDIOTS.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 21/05/2009 17:09
Report abuse
Public are just jealous, says MP!
________________________________________________________
Well, he would say that wouldn't he?
Unfortunately, that attitude will always be prevalent, regardless of whom we elect to'High Office'!
They, (Whover 'They' are) are trained/ingrained/taught/indoctrinated from birth that they are superior beings!
That's why revolutions occur, and like Charles the 1st, the axeman disolves that illusion.
But, the uncanny thing is, these here 'Superior' beings crop up again, and again!
GERONIMO
- Kenneth Hickford, LONDON, 21/05/2009 17:01
Report abuse
How DARE Anthony Steen declare that what he claims for is none of our business when he is a public servant and claiming our hard-earned cash to prop up a lifestyle that only 'does him nicely'! Jealous? ... JEALOUS?! He, Sir Peter Viggers, Douglas Hogg, together with countless others, have been shamelessly claiming money to spend on items which should have been paid for out of their own pockets! How very convenient to have a publicly-funded, very generous cash stream from which to withdraw funds for luxury items! And how very annoying that the public should now know about it and, not surprisingly, want to stop the practice!
REMOVE THESE CONDESCENDING LEECHES! They should hang their heads in shame, not trying to justify their selfish actions!
- Wet Behind The Ears, Nottingham, UK, 21/05/2009 16:57
Report abuse
Jealous The cheek of the man its a good job he is standing down because I would personaly be standing in the streets of Devon heckerling him.
- Dave Smith, Croydon, 21/05/2009 16:53
Report abuse
Why didnt Rifkind take the train to Scotland and save taxpayers money. The mind boggles at the nerve of these people.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 21/05/2009 16:47
Report abuse
Here is yet another MP who seems to think The Treasury is his private bank.
- Kate, London, 21/05/2009 16:45
Report abuse
Its true, this is a very jealous country, jealous of wealth or status.
However, he should be gracious enough to recognise he has been caught with his hand in the till, whilst forming policy on how the country should live its lives.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 21/05/2009 16:42
Report abuse
Steen still doesn't get it. It's not about jealousy - it's about integrity. The public has the asolute right to know how public money is being used (and abused).
- Duncan, Bristol, UK, 21/05/2009 16:38
Report abuse
Hasn't got it, has he? Sound like he could get a job at Ryanair.
- Alan In Bow, London, 21/05/2009 16:37
Report abuse
