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Alistair Darling is to re-pay £554 he claimed towards a chest of drawers to furnish his second home, it was disclosed.
The Chancellor was requested to reimburse the taxpayer for the cash by Sir Thomas Legg, following his review of MPs' expenses claims from the past five years.
Mr Darling claimed £1,104 for the total cost of the drawers, despite there being a limit of £550 for such items.
Sir Thomas has also asked for proof of the Chancellor's monthly interest payments on the mortgage for his second home.
The news came just hours after Gordon Brown was ordered to repay nearly £12,500 in expense claims he spent on a cleaner for his Westminster flat.
The Prime Minister will pay in full an excess amount of £12,415.10 which Sir Thomas has calculated was above the limits he is now applying over the period 2004-05 to 2008-09, a Downing Street spokesman said.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg also agreed to repay £910 of expenses he claimed for gardening. He wrote a cheque after sleazebustrer Sir Thomas said his claims went above an arbitrary new limit of £1,000 a year.
David Cameron was also challenged by Sir Thomas to give more details to justify his mortgage claims.
The party leaders were the first to be embarrassed as Sir Thomas sent out hundreds of letters to MPs urging them to pay money back to the taxpayer.
But most of the demands for repayment were being covered up from the public. Both Labour and Tory MPs admitted they had been instructed by their whips not to reveal the contents of letters from Sir Thomas, the senior civil servant brought in to check over claims made since 2004.
Sir Thomas also faced a furious backlash for “reinterpreting” the rules and imposing new limits on what could be claimed, such as the gardening ceiling that caught out Mr Clegg.
It had the result that scores of MPs are being found to have broken the rules for claims that were previously approved in full.
The Evening Standard has learned that Sir Thomas is being opposed by the most senior Commons figures. A source revealed that six senior MPs who sit on the ruling Members Estimates Committee - including Harriet Harman - are unhappy with the way Sir Thomas is carrying out his work.
Every MP was due to receive a letter this afternoon saying whether or not they should refund claims ranging from extravagant gardening to inappropriate mortgage bills.
Spokesmen for Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Commons Speaker John Bercow all refused to give a commitment to reveal what was said in the letters sent to them.
And a senior MP admitted: “We have all been told to say nothing to the Press about what is in our letters.”
Other MPs told the Standard that they regarded the correspondence as private.
Earlier, Mr Brown confronted MPs who were threatening a mutiny against Sir Thomas.
Warning that open defiance would just deepen public distrust of politicians, he said: “Let's get it done, let's get it sorted out. And let's get back to a system people have confidence.”
It was OK to question Sir Thomas, said the Prime Minister, but he went on: “My advice to people is, if after the process is gone through he says repay, then repay.”
But MPs said Sir Thomas was tearing up past agreements by ruling that it was wrong to claim over £1,000 for gardening or £2,000 for cleaning.
On that basis, the Prime Minister could have to repay around £4,000. He claimed £6,577 for cleaning his little-used flat over less than two years as well as a Sky Sports subscription.
Mr Brown had confronted MPs who threatened a mutiny against Sir Thomas. Warning that open defiance would only deepen public distrust of politicians, he said: “Let's get it done, let's get it sorted out. Let's get back to a system people have confidence in.”
It was acceptable to question Sir Thomas, said the Prime Minister, but he went on: “My advice to people is that if after the process is gone through he says repay, then repay.”
But MPs were angry that Sir Thomas appeared to be tearing up agreements on what they could claim for gardening and maintenance. He is said to have ruled that it was wrong to claim more than £1,000 for gardening or £2,000 for cleaning.
On that basis, Mr Brown may have to repay about £4,000. He claimed £6,577 for cleaning his little-used flat over a period of less than two years and also for a Sky Sports subscription.
Senior Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell said it would be “clearly wrong” for Mr Brown to repay expenses that had been fully approved in the past.
He accused Sir Thomas of reinventing the rules, saying it was unfair to MPs who had acted in good faith.
The issue was set to boil over at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party in the Commons tonight.
Tory leader Mr Cameron said: “At the end of the process everyone must comply with what the authorities ask.”
Reader views (58)
The only way to see justice done is for all those of us tax payers who have been victims of their crimes to apply for legal aid and take out private prosecutions.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 13/10/2009 11:30
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Tony Blair got Home Free !!!
Nice !
- A Tax Slave, london, 13/10/2009 10:42
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£1,104.00 for a chest of drawers? Really?
DIZZY DARLING NEEDED THE BIGGEST DRAWERS HE COULD COMMAND TO STASH ALL HIS ILL-GOTTEN GAINS IN.
HYPOCRITE.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 13/10/2009 09:57
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The amount that this unelected scotsman so generously deigned to repay is considerably greater than I receive for a whole year of state pansion, on which I pay tax, Why is this thief allowed to simply repay the sum that he has stolen from the counry, without any further penalty? The man is a thief, and should be in jail.
- Poor Pensioner, London/England, 13/10/2009 04:18
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Just an idle thought - does it occur to anyone that if Sir Thomas, the senior civil servant brought in to check over claims made since 2004, were to be just a shade over zealous in his task, wouldn't that tend to have EVERYONE bundled into the same catergory of 'benefits cheats' (after all, who would look too closely at the numbers involved when the label would be all they needed) - which party would most benefit from this now more evenly spread out vote loser?
...as I said, just a thought...
- Rogan, Irving, 12/10/2009 23:49
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I cannot believe that this smith character is getting away with just making an apology, just like the Director of the CIA said on that libyan FIASCO, A MOCKERY OF JUSTICE, I don't believe anything is going to happen to those LYING THIEVING PIECES OF GARBAGE
- Agnes & Robert, vancouver canada, 12/10/2009 23:02
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So our spendthrift Prime Minister has been ordered to pay back £12,415 after an independent audit. Now he is ordering the sale of £16billion (one off) assets to cover his national overspeading. Like gold they will be sold at the wrong time. Has this gentleman ever had to do the weekly shopping and live within a budget?
- Andrew, London, 12/10/2009 21:31
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What the hell are you talking about? Nick Clegg has not been "named and shamed". The money he is giving back was claimed legitimately within the existing rules. He was among the first to publish his expenses online VOLUNTARILY.
You might not like it, but the Lib Dems are much cleaner than the big two, and you know it.
- Robert C, London UK, 12/10/2009 20:12
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Leading politicians helped write the script for 'The Invention of Lying' EU release.
- Bill, Hay~Heath UK, 12/10/2009 19:30
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Problem with poiticians is, none are qualified to eprform their duties. They make up some slogans and get people (sheep) to vote for them. Does anyone ever ask the question...what are your qualifications for this job,? Should be the same as any other job if you want to pass the interview.
- Ray Jarvis, marlborough, USA, 12/10/2009 19:24
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You cannot change the rules half way through the game as the so called Adjudicator is now doing.I do not say that the MPs are right but if is the case that the public want a blood letting then, Lets look at the BBC,The Banks,The whole of the money industry just to start, after all we all paid them one way or the other, be it Tax or Charges!
- Bill Francis-Williams, Beaumont Pied de Beouf, 12/10/2009 19:18
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Oh dear... Retrospective.
If these MPs had done their job properly 5 years or more ago and dealt with what many of th agreed was a flawed system this wouldn't have happened.
Maybe it's not so unfair after all!!
- Chris, London, 12/10/2009 19:08
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although it's no surprise after 'president blair's'
profligate reign that our 'leaders'
are on the make, a poor boy would wonder why anybody
with a shred of common sense would even think of having
them call the tune.further, how do they have the bare
faced audacity to even think they are honest enough and
worthy to even contemplate seeking high office.
jack and jill salt of the earth would be facing a fraud trial and be keeping a very low profile.
now 'our leader' wants to sell off some of the public assets to lessen the public debt burden, which he created.any common conman can with a degree of creative accountancy alleviate his debts, or those he created for others by selling off somebody elses goods and chattels.
alal
ial
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 12/10/2009 19:07
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I think those MPs not listed for faults and repayments (and crimes) should stand up and be counted. This will clearly illustrate the riffraff that remain.
Let us also see what the police do about "Lord" Paul, "Baroness" Uddin and even the Tory, "Lord" Taylor.
- Michael, London, UK, 12/10/2009 18:23
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Thief! Thief!
- Bobby, London, 12/10/2009 18:14
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The people of this country are delighted that the heat is on our MP's over their piggy trough.
- Albert Hall, hove england, 12/10/2009 17:58
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What does the word ''justice'' mean to people in authority,if a person is found to steal or is caught in any fraudlent activity AUTOMATICALLY the Police are bought in to investigate,where are they now in this fraudulent abuse of TaxPayers money.I challenge the PM
or THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE to bring in the Police to investigate ALL what has been disclosed by Sir Thomas Legg so that the TaxPayers can be seen to have been given 'JUSTICE''
- European, Hong Kong China, 12/10/2009 17:43
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“Let's get it done, let's get it sorted out. And let's get back to a system people have confidence.” The man is still kidding him self!!! Then again...once a liar...always a liar!!!
- Mark Egan, Sidcup, 12/10/2009 17:20
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By not naming those MPs who either need to pay back money or have questions to answer it will mean that those completely innocent will get tarred with the same brush.
How many MPs who have nothing to answer for are willing to reveal this publically?
The problem with this issue is that some of the claims made were within the then existing rules so a degree of retrospective legislation is now being called for. Its like telling a motorist he has to pay a fine because where he parked last week now has double yellow lines!!
I notice Tories are still calling for an election no doubt so they can prevent new rules preventing their gravy boat from setting sail.
Perhaps its time to house MPs on a council estate with furniture supplied and keys for gas and electric meters!!
Notice how MPs fail to say why they cant pay for food from their wages like everyone else is expected to!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 12/10/2009 17:11
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"name and shame - Anon, leicestershire"
Some irony from "ANON"
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants, 12/10/2009 16:38
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left or right, they are all the same, cheats.
i suggest vote for no one.
cameron and brown liars who want to now hide the latest information
Jaber
- Jaberwokie, Switzerland, 12/10/2009 16:20
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Joe public is sick to death with these thieving lying so called politicians,nothing they say now will be believed,we live in a society in Britain today that's almost unrecognizable to the one I grew up in,this is communism by any other name,the ruling elite have put themselves above the law and there is very little that us peasants can do about it except vote them out at the next election.
- General Lee Wright, Stalinist Britain., 12/10/2009 16:08
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It just goes to show that 'CONFIDENTIALITY' has evolved into a place, in this country, where wrongdoings can and are being covered-up and hidden from the from the gaze of the electorate.
- Darnthesafetynet, London W11 1NR, 12/10/2009 16:07
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Firstly we had redacting. Now we have "anonymous".
IS THE UK A DEMOCRACY OR IS IT A GLORIFIED THIRD WORLD BANANA REPUBLIC POLICE STATE GONE BONKERS?
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 12/10/2009 15:29
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GUITY MY LORD, INFACT INCLUDING THE LORDS, BUT DONT TELL ANYONE.
- Alan Green, England. The forgotten country., 12/10/2009 15:22
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Its not just their mortgages,gardens and cleaning Mr Lyons should be looking at, its their office expenses as well.
Why can M Hodge MP for Barking send out hundreds of letters every month inviting residents to coffee mornings on House of Commons paper, and stamped by HoC.
How can she allow the local labour party to use her office 24/7 which we pay for out of our income tax.
No this is bigger than just their mortgages, rotten all the way through.
- Bob, East London, 12/10/2009 15:20
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A PERSON ON BENEFIT WHO EARNS AN EXTRA THIRTY QUID DOING A BIT OF GARDENING IS CALLED A BENEFIT CHEAT. TV ADVERTS PROCLAIM WE ARE WATCHING, SOON THE THOUGHT POLICE MOVE IN, YOU LOOSE YOUR BENEFITS, PERHAPS YOUR HOME, YOUR REPUTATION.
DONT PAY YOUR TV LICENSEE AND YOU ARE WARNED YOU FACE A £1000 FINE
BUT, BUT BUT< IN PARLIAMENT IF YOU ARE A REALLY BIG CHEAT YOU GET ELEVATED TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS WHERE YOU CAN GO ON CHEATING AD INFINITUM. IF YOU ARE REALLY WEALTHY AND DONATE TO ONE OF THE PARTIES WHO KNOWS WHAT HONORS LIE IN STORE. ALL YOU EVER NEED IS TO PROCLAIM ITS ALL IN THE RULES.
THE ONLY ANSWER IS EVERY FEW YEARS ALWAYS VOTE AGAINST THE SITTING MEMBER.
- Alan Green, England. The forgotten country., 12/10/2009 15:18
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So if I got caught fiddling my businesses accounts to line my pockets where would I be now - waiting trial for theft!! So what is the difference - these spongers have been doing this since they became MP's. I seem to remember reading somewhere that this is one of the "perks" of being an MP. They should all be arrested and dealt with by the courts.
- Peter, Vienna, Austria, 12/10/2009 14:51
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The leaders of all the main parties obviously think that come election time the electorate will revert to type and there will be a change of government without a lanmd slide victory. If they thought that there was any risk of being deserted for the minority parties this fraudlent rabble would be dealt with severely.
Start pressuring your local political parties and make it clear that you will not vote for a fraudster or a party that supports fraudsters.
- Bj, London, 12/10/2009 14:30
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do we really need these leeches, whatever their political persuassions, almost without exception they achieve little of public benefit, but gain much of personal wealth and vain glory.
think long and hard when asked to vote for any that currently are in office and question deeply those that wish to 'represent' you, for such alturistic ambitions
may well be far from their true motives.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 12/10/2009 14:13
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name and shame
- Anon, leicestershire, 12/10/2009 14:12
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MP's can repay but remain annonymous.
What happened to 'Name and Shame' which MP's and HMRC are so keen on for eveyone else?
Pesumably it was not MP's fault because they were forced to steal from the public.
- Warren H, London, 12/10/2009 14:03
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Has he told Jaqui Smith this? Or does he also agree with Lyon the so called investigator that she has suffered enough because her dirty old man passed his porn bills through her thieving fingers?
- Jilly, London, 12/10/2009 13:46
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".. threatening to mutiny .."?
No problem, let us know the names. We shall remember them at the general election.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 12/10/2009 13:24
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Only in the UK.The head of the MPs,our PM,appoints someone to look into the expense scandal.Its like the Mafia appointing someone to look into their dealings.Does he really think we the British public are that stupid.Bet he told them they must find someone guilty otherwise it may look like a cover up.In any other country this would have lead to a public revolt,and each and every MP would be seating behind bars at this time.
- Roy, london, 12/10/2009 13:12
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If they are preparing a legal challenge, monies should be put aside for taxpayers to prosecute MPs for gross misconduct-in private enterprise that is a sackable offence.The true face of politicians -all of them-is being revealed.One law for us and another for them.Next voting will be for landed gentry only...and prorata their pay for the length of time they actually work 7 months max and well said Mickiinlondon
- Amoreno, Luxembourg, 12/10/2009 12:54
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Given that[some]MPs are intelligent people [ahemm], it saddens me that they still cannot see what a huge gaffe they have made and continue to make.
If the body to which these matters have been referred cannot invite further investigation by the Police, what has the point been? Perhaps, it has been yet another charade to deflect Joe Public from the mercenary and amoral politicians we have in this country.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 12/10/2009 12:47
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Nothing but a bunch of common thieves showing their true colours. Boot the lot of them out.
- Goggs, London, 12/10/2009 12:36
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Power corrupts, whoever is in charge next term, I'll doubt there will be an increase in honest expense claims.
I have no faith in both leading political parties.
- Decency, London, UK, 12/10/2009 12:08
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Good on Gordon Brown im not a labour supporter but what he has said in the Evening Standard is totaly correct, pay it all back, you will have too.He;s got my vote on that one.Well done good solid common sense and the correct way to handle this with these useless M/p;s.
- Roderick Heffernan, england, 12/10/2009 12:03
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This is appalling saying that they wont pay back the money .Its our money and they have ripped us off thinking that they are in a world of their own and they can do what they want.The million pounds its cost to bring this to where it is now , not one penny should be paid by the taxepayer but should be paid by the m/p;s themselfs.They are a disgrace and many people dont want to vote for any of them as they are completely off track.If this was the private sector they would have been arrested and jailed for fraud and thats what should happen with no remuneration package at all.All party leaders need to get very very strong with this otherwise all hope is lost and if they persist in not paying these expences back i suggest the population of this country takes the lot of them to court and get them sacked jailed and made to pay it all back with interest.
- Roderick Heffernan, england, 12/10/2009 11:59
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bunch of loosers ,pay the money back or get the sack.
- Fodil, LONDON,UK, 12/10/2009 11:45
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They all need arresting and charged with theft like any member of the public who thieve....
- Rsaviour, london, 12/10/2009 11:42
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I am sure that the great British Public, would like to know who are these shameful politicians that do not want to pay back money that they have stolen form the tax payers. Their actions amount to fraud and theft and if this was one of us, we would be subject to criminal proceedings.
- Kunle Sotunde, London, 12/10/2009 11:34
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- Peter, Harrow.
I agree that any profit on a second home should go back to the treasury, but equally so should any loss. Becoming an MP should not be a gravy train, but equally it should not cost the individual money either...
- Adam, London, 12/10/2009 10:50
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the expense should be paid like a parking ticket minus the 7day dicount.
they should be paid within 7 days if they dont the amonut doubles miss the next 7 days it doubles again.
- Cassandra, london, 12/10/2009 10:46
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This must be the beginning and not the end. Expenses must be scrutinised upwards to EU ministers and downwards to our local councils. After that other areas including the NHS, education and even charities must be shown to be squeaky clean.
I recently made a note not to give to a charity after finding out that some volunteers were receiving expenses that were totally unjustified. If one gives to a charity one needs to feel reassured that the money is going to where it is needed!
- Michael De Ferrari, London, 12/10/2009 10:29
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Much of this money was obtained through fraud, and should be dealt with by the police and courts, just paying it back doesn't 'sort it out'.
- Julian, London, 12/10/2009 10:09
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The expenses rules were quite clear 'wholly and necessary etc etc ', it was just because the Mps were controlling the system the rules were not properly or effectively applied.
Wonderful schadenfreude; looking forward to hearing the squealing as their snouts are wrenched out of the trough!!
- Mark Myword, London, 12/10/2009 10:08
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So the charade of deception by the Nations Ruling Elite continues; and indeed why should they pay back any money obtained by their skilled fraud of raiding the Nations Purse.
The most educated, and allegedly, the most responsible people in the land, I,E the Politicians that make the rules and laws for us all, never intended those same laws and rules to apply to them personally etc?
One could say; they are well justified in objecting to some government committee telling them what to do about any money they obtained by dubious means, and creative accounting etc; these government committees are not courts of law, they are just government smoke screens set up to cover criminal actions by government and all politicians, without having to face criminal charges before the British Courts etc.
These MPs should like all other members of the British Nation; have the same legal rights to face a court of law on any criminal charges put before them, and that same court of law should decide on their guilt or innocence.
MPs are often denied the basic human rights the general public takes for granted; MPs do not get a fair interview from the Metropolitan Police, or even a fair examination of their accounts by the SFO; in-fact they do not even get questioned at all by any Police Department; and this is unfair, and a human rights violation.
MPs should have the same rights we the public have; and that is a fair court trial, in an open court of law.
How about it Gordon Brown?
- Mickinlondon, london, 12/10/2009 09:56
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I hope the repayments include a relevant proportion from Tony Blair.
Even though his expenses were 'accidentally destroyed' it would not be unreasonable to see how much he was paid over his time in office and demand that he pays back at least half of it. If he refuses, seize one of his properties and sell it off to recover the money.
- Jane, London, 12/10/2009 09:28
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All these crooks must be kicked out at the next election. Undoubtedly their fraudulent claims and misappropriation of tax payers' money should ensure they never hold public office again. Once this is sorted out to the satisfaction of the electorate there needs to be root and branch reform of the expenses being claimed by members of the house of lords.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 12/10/2009 09:22
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MP's were caught bang-to-rights misappropriating taxpayer's cash and now they propose challenging the findings - on expenses, of course.
Absolute hypocrites.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 12/10/2009 09:14
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Hmm ... I wonder how much of this will be made public or "redacted".
And who has/will scrutinise the integrity of Sir Thomas?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 12/10/2009 09:14
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Three comments.
Gordon Brown and others repeatedly told us in summer at the height of the expenses controversy that we should await independent scrutiny results rather than go by the biased Telegraph disclosures. They gave no thanks to Telegraph: but for Telegraph expose, MPs including Gordon Brown would have got away with all they have done by simply blacking out every material information from their own 'disclosures'. Now that the independent scrutiny's results are out, they want to question it!
Second, the Commons own expenses-authorising committee has over the years been pushed to accepting almost anything the MPs presented. Sir Thomas is applying standards that any common man would have applied.
Third, all disputed expenses the MPs should pay back immediately, just we have to when the Inland Revenue or our employers ask us to pay back anything. If they do not the usual penalties should apply.
For once, MPs should behave the way the common man (or woman) is expected to.
- Nat, New Malden, 12/10/2009 09:05
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Those MP's that have bought & sold seconds homes and have made a profit at taxpayers expenses think that they are off the hook because they have come clean and paid any CGT owed.
Think again.
Why should the state provide funds for you to speculate on the property market? All profit you made must be returned to the treasury. Any loss you make must be borne by you and you must reimburse the treasury.
All contents of the property such as TV's, HiFis etc paid for out of expense claims must be sold when the property is sold and again the proceeds returned to the treasury.
- Peter, Harrow, UK, 12/10/2009 09:04
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The BBC suggests that Smith will be criticised but NOT required to pay back monies claimed.The woman has shown herself to be unfit for public service and is perceived as a thief by many voters.Brown would do well to require her to go.
Stuart Bell's pathetic plea for "fair"treatment of MPs ignores the public contempt for thos who played to the letter of the law & never to the spirit of that law.
- P Doff, audierne france, 12/10/2009 08:39
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OMG! AREN'T THEY BACK AT WORK YET?!!
"Summer Break" indeed: bunch of slackers.
- Roz, France, 12/10/2009 08:18
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