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Cameron pays back almost £1,000 in wrongly claimed expenses
Joe Murphy, Paul Waugh and Nicholas Cecil18.06.09
David Cameron today paid back £947 in excessive expenses claims as the row over Commons allowances reignited.
The Conservative leader sent a cheque to the Commons to cover over claims including £218.91 in mortgage payments.
He admitted that he inadvertently failed to reduce his claim for taxpayer support even he moved off a fixed interest loan to lower variable rates.
Other blunders included £10 charged in error for a researcher's phone bill and £9 overpaid for a home power bill.
The cheque also included £680 that he promised to repay last month for removing wisteria and other works to his house.
“I would like to make clear that these were discovered as a result of a thorough review by my office, not as a result of media enquiries,” he said.
In other embarrassing disclosures today, Tory defence spokesman Liam Fox was found to have rung up a £5,137.70 phone bill on his mobile.
His monthly Vodafone bills ranged from £312 to £772.80.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw was accused of claiming £500 for Christmas cards, which cannot normally be charged to taxpayers under Commons rules.
Former Home Secretary John Reid charged £587 for tax advice on filling in his self assessment form and other matters.
Dr Reid also charged £29.99 for a copy of a textbook called “Economic Explained” from Waterstone's.
Tory MP Hugo Swire put in a bill for a Glyndebourne festival programme, costing £15.
Mr Cameron's expenses revbeal that in 2005 he was charged £150 by the Tory whips for losing his radiopager, then used by the whips to keep members on-message.
Chancellor Alistair Darling, who has had a stressful tiome over the economy, charged for 36 toilet rolls costing £21.98 in 2004.
Reader views (16)
He earns more then me in 1 month that we earn over 5yrs and we still owe 2 yrs taxes. Still owe COUNCIL TAXES, STILL HAVE TO PAY TO PARK
- Jo, Southsea
The mind boggling hypocrisy within some of these anti-Cameron comments (I must hesitate in calling them New Labour supporters......) leads one to relish the moment when Gordon Brown's paperwork finally finds its way into the public domain. Ah well, me can but hope.
But on the matter of public criticism of politicians in general, would it be imprudent to go against the grain and announce my amazement at the vast numbers of fair-minded, good and honest citizens that bless dumpUK?
- Ted, London
We will not be voting for anyone in parliament. No more musical chairs with Labour or Conservative. We need a strong party that loves this country. And that let's out the Lib-Dems too.
- Sylvia Howard, Epping Essex
Taking advantage of tax payers who are especially vulnerable during this period of economic hardship clearly shows that David Cameron is not fit and lacks the moral standing to lead his party let alone the country. So much for his talking-shop.
- Howard Green, Guildford, UK
ITS ALL QUITE WHOEVER IS YOUR SITTING MP VOTE AGAINST THEM, THAT WAY YOU WILL GET A TOTAL NEW BUNCH., WHOM WE CAN THROW OUT IN FIVE YEARS TIME
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
Now that Dave has come clean about over-claiming nearly £1000 due to an "inadvertent error" i get the impression we are expected to think what an honest guy! The 'error' had not even be exposed by the Telegraph yet(strange that) and Dave acted without prompting. If i made such an 'inadvertent error' with my expenses I would be sacked and my career ruined because I would be considered dishonest and a cheat.
- Chloe, london
Not sure whos the biggest plonker Dave or those who want to vote for him!!
At least he has finally realised it was a european financial crisis give him another 6 months and he might admit to it being a world crisis!!!
Trigger used to call Rodney Dave perhaps its time to call Dave Rodney...What a 42% plonker!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
I'm waiting for George Osborne, that poor multi-millionaire to pay back the £400 he charged for food each month when he was at his second home. I would imagine he went to Tatton on a Friday, and came back to London on a Sunday; he must have a really good appetite to put £400 worth of food away in 6 days per month. Can anyone explain why Michael Gove charged £11.71 each month for his tv licence. You don't need a licence for each home, you only have to buy one, and that would be for his permanent address, but it covers any additional homes he has. Therefore, that means we are paying for the tv licence for his family home, while he is charging for it on his ACA. What a bloody cheek. I hope Cameron makes him repay it. The payments are writ large each month on his redacted receipts.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Quote: Mrs, London UK. I have voted Conservative for the last 38 years, but NEVER AGAIN, I bet I'm not on my own either!
Don’t feel so bad Mrs; I voted Labour all my life; but never again.
My shame is far greater than yours; at least you never voted New Labour in the first place.
- Mickyinlondon, london
What about the 6,500 pounds Gordon Brown payed his brother?
- Richard K, Nottingham
“But the fascination with bike-riding Cameron's '£30million' refuses to go away. As does gossip of his alleged personal family fortune, helped by the Mail on Sunday's disclosure that he paid off the £75,000 mortgage on the £1.5 million home in North Kensington, London, that he owns with his wife Samantha, after they took out a £350,000 taxpayer-funded HSBC mortgage on his designated Oxfordshire constituency second home.
While within the rules, this is precisely the kind of financial jiggery-pokery for which other MPs have been criticised in recent weeks, as details of the way they have abused their second homes allowances have been made public. “
For his part, Cameron claims he was able to pay off the mortgage on his London home by selling shares. But he is still open to the charge that someone who's clearly worth a few bob was 'playing' the system by claiming more than £21,200 from taxpayers in 2005-6, for the mortgage interest paid on his constituency home.
It has been suggested that he could have saved the taxpayer thousands of pounds if he had put the money from the sale of his shares towards his constituency property - a large and comfortable country house - which he bought eight years ago for £650,000. Especially as it is now worth in the region of £1million, giving him a substantial paper profit." Thos mail article illustrates how we can't trust Mr Cameron.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
As Dave has ordered some of his MPs to stand down at the election over this then maybe he should do the same. What a hypocrite,
- John, London, UK
So that makes stealing from the taxpayers ok then does it?
I have voted Conservative for the last 38 years, but NEVER AGAIN, I bet I'm not on my own either!
I know who'll be getting the votes from my household, and it won't be any of the big 3 that have presided over us for the past 100 years!
- Mrs, London UK
Pots calling Kettles Black?
- Mickyinlondon, london
The Tories are very quiet now! Cameron, possibly the biggest hypocrite of all.
- Robert Turner, Corsham UK
Behold,our next Prime Minister,as rotten as all the rest.
- Joseph T Cochoran, Finchley
