Weather Afternoon: 10°c Sunny spells Tonight: 4°c Partly Cloudy Night

News

Malik faces second inquiry into expenses

Nicholas Cecil, Deputy Political Editor
16 Jun 2009


Government minister Shahid Malik is to be investigated for a second time over his financial affairs.

Parliamentary standards commissioner John Lyon, announced an inquiry today into the communities minister after receiving a complaint over his use of Commons expenses.

Mr Malik, who stood down as justice minister last month, was brought back into the Government less than a fortnight ago after being cleared of breaching the ministerial code.

The Prime Minister's adviser on the ministerial code, Sir Philip Mawer, concluded that the Dewsbury MP did not benefit from below-market rents for his constituency home and office.

However, questions were raised whether Gordon Brown reinstated him too quickly when the Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Malik used Commons expenses for a second constituency office, run from his home.

The MP dismissed the allegations and insisted he did not break any rules.

A Conservative MP accused of having two homes in London hit out at his constituents as he announced he would resign at the next general election.

Ian Taylor, who has been MP for Esher and Walton for 22 years, said there were “several factors” behind his decision.

The Daily Telegraph revealed he had a second taxpayer-funded home in London even though his main home is in the commuter belt.

Today he said the decision was one he was “pondering for a while” and that Gordon Brown's refusal to step down was the “decisive factor”.

Mr Taylor, 64, said: “It is clear ... that many constituents have little concept of what an MP does or where his attention should be focused.

“There has been some criticism of me recently for my failure to commute rather than whether I hold views and or take actions on key matters. This debases the whole system. It implies that an MP should seek to be around locally more than around Westminster.”

He insisted he commuted “most weeks”, spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday “around the constituency”.

Mr Taylor is the 12th Tory MP stepping down following the expenses furore.

Scores of MPs face an end to employing their wife or husband, sons, daughters or parents using public funds.

Commons leader Harriet Harman accepted it was “unsustainable” for MPs to keep employing close family members in their offices.

She told Sir Christopher Kelly's inquiry into MPs' expenses: “I think it is almost impossible to convince the public that actually there is fair employment opportunity.”

 

  • Riot axeman terror at McDonald's Axe man A rioter who terrorised diners with an axe at McDonald's has been jailed for five years and three months - one of the toughest sentences for...
  • Terror of boy exposed as gang witness Scotland Yard A boy and his family had to flee their London home after a blunder by the Met and Crown Prosecution Service gave his name to gang members he...
  • Mayor of poverty-hit council hires adviser in £1,000-a-day deal Lutfur Rahman Winterbottom One of the poorest boroughs in London is under fire for spending £1,000 a day on a personal aide for its mayor
  • Hyde Park mega-concerts at risk after neighbours complain about the noise Hyde park crowd Major music concerts in Hyde Park could be axed because Westminster council believes they are too noisy
  • Soho 'field hospital' for drunks reopens David Cameron smile A field hospital set up to deal with London's drunks is being extended as the binge-drinking crisis deepens in the capital
  • Jobless total jumps by 48,000 with UK facing 'zig-zag year' Job Centre unemployment Bank of England Governor Sir Mervyn King warned Britain faces a "zig-zag" year of growth and gloom today as unemployment rose by 48,000
  • Greens and Ukip could test Paddick in fight for mayor poll third place Paddick Brian Paddick could struggle even to finish third in this year's mayoral election, as smaller parties look set to capitalise on Lib-Dem woes...
  • Phone-hack private eye can appeal over human rights ruling Glenn Mulcaire The private investigator at the centre of the phone hacking scandal was today granted the right by the Supreme Court to appeal against a...
  • Britain's athletes could be banned from 2012 for criticising the team Olympic site British athletes risk being banned from the Olympics if they criticise team-mates or sponsors under rules that cover tattoos, contact lenses...
  • Teenager who dreamt of being a judge stabbed 24 times in 45 seconds Three thugs are facing life sentences for stabbing a teenager who had dreams of being a judge 24 times in 45 seconds in front of horrified bus passengers
  •  

    Don't Miss
    • London Gateway

      Supersize superport: London Gateway

      London Gateway, the £1.5bn container port under construction on the Thames at Thurrock, will have capacity to unload six of the world's largest ships at one time and have as much impact on the capital as a new airport or half a dozen Westfield shopping centres
    • Matthew Williamson

      One stylish affair: Matthew Williamson

      With London Fashion Week kicking off on Friday, British designer Matthew Williamson tells Rosamund Urwin about breaking up with his ex, post-show partying and his new model man