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A Minister who claimed £25,000 of taxpayers' money for private "security" protection has announced she will quit as an MP.
Culture minister Barbara Follett, MP for Stevenage, will stand down at the next general election to spend more time with her family.
Ms Follett was plunged into the expenses scandal this year when it emerged that she had claimed £25,000 for a private police force to patrol near her four-storey home in Soho.
The MP billed taxpayers for the security when she said she felt unsafe after being mugged and followed by a stalker. She earns £95,000 a year, while her husband, thriller writer Ken Follett, is said to earn about £13million.
She also got into trouble for claiming £528.75 to have a rug repaired and cleaned but that was deemed excessive by the Fees Office and she was given £300. She later repaid the claims.
At the time she said: "I claimed it, it's within the rules and I have no comment to make."
Ms Follett said last night: "I had hoped to stand one more time for the constituency that I love and first joined over 30 years ago.
"I will be 67 this Christmas and my husband and children made it clear, after 12 years, they had had enough of me being absent from family occasions."
Reader views (8)
Not ONE single prosecution of any MP by the Police under the 2006 FRAUD ACT (sections 1-4)so far...
Just shows the dismal state of UK Politics and the ability of MP's to walk away Scot Free with £M's of looted taxpayers money, laughing at us,all they way to the Bank.
- Frank, Bristol
Sad fact is, the Follett's are millionaires. They didn't need the money. Despite belonging to a socialist party, wanton greed prevails.
- Sue, Ealing
"they had had enough of me being absent from family occasions."
We, on the other hand, have had enough of you being present at parliamentary occasions.
- Maximum Bob, London
When are these crooks going to be brought to justice? As every one of them is going to be kicked out of office at the next election ALL second homes must be sold and the proceeds returned to the treasury - and all fraudulent claims must be repaid in full. The houses of parliaments must be emptied of these crooks once and for all - and they should never be allowed to hold public office again.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
Husband earns £13m but she feels the need to adhere to the rules of screwing the public out of much money as possible. Good riddance.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
Another one gets away - that's it love you scurry off into your little dark corner like the rat that you are! When is this so called Scotland Yard enquiry going to submit results? Or are they hoping we'll forget what this bunch of leeches have been up to?
- Jg, Ashton UK
Of course, by waiting until the election to stand down, she protects her huge payout - thus demonstrating for the umteenth time her unparalled ability to filch our money and escape retribution. I'm sure she does "love my constituency" - they have unwittingly made her rich beyond most of their own wildest dreams. What tawdry people these politicians are !
- Sean, Coventry UK
"It's within the rules" spouted this parasite.
GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
