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Revealed: What top Cabinet ministers have to repay
Joe Murphy and Nicholas Cecil13 Oct 2009
Cabinet ministers today paid back hundreds of pounds in expenses deemed to have been “excessive”.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson repaid £800 for tree surgery and Justice Secretary Jack Straw refunded £600 for expenses added up wrongly — while Foreign Secretary David Miliband gave back £434 for “a bureaucratic error”.
They followed Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who repaid £12,415 for cleaning bills after getting a letter from auditor Sir Thomas Legg.
Croydon South MP Richard Ottaway repaid £2,300 for gardening.
Mr Brown today said he may withdraw the Labour whip from any MP refusing to co-operate with Sir Thomas. But he was on a collision course with many MPs who are furious about Sir Thomas's clean-up.
There was anger at a crisis meeting of Labour MPs this morning, where Harriet Harman urged a mass write-in campaign to make Sir Thomas back down. If that fails, MPs will consider the “nuclear option” of a Commons vote to dilute or reject Legg's demands.
“Something completely new has been introduced out of the blue,” protested former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe. “Thomas Legg has actually rewritten the rules.”
She said there was a “pretty big question mark over the legality of this”. She added: “If any other employer said: We have now changed the rules so here's a bill,' that employer would be up before a tribunal.”
A spokesman for Lord Mandelson said his repayment was for a large bill to lop a tree that was overhanging a neighbour's garden. The 2004 bill broke the £1,000 limit on gardening claims imposed by Sir Thomas.
“Lord Mandelson will pay this money in full,” said his spokesman.
So far, the repayments have been voluntary and are based on provisional findings by Sir Thomas. Mr Brown, touring a north London estate, said MPs could comment but should pay up if final demands were made.
Asked if he was ready to withdraw the whip from any who refused, he told reporters: “If, of course, people are not prepared to co-operate, then we will have to consider that action.”
He went on: “We've got to call an end to this and therefore people must abide by the decisions that are made and make the payments that are appropriate. Parliament will require them to do so.”
Labour MPs are furious with Mr Brown, who announced the appointment of Sir Thomas in July.
One senior MP said the Prime Minister's performance at a meeting with Labour MPs last night was “a car crash” and predicted that there would be moves to install leadership critic Barry Sheerman as chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party instead of Tony Lloyd — and another senior MP said that could revive talk of a leadership challenge to Mr Brown.
“He tried to defend an indefensible principle and it made him into a bit of a chump,” said the MP.
Today's meeting of Labour MPs saw anger at the Legg letters but they were persuaded by Ms Harman to avoid being openly defiant of his requests for repayment, a move she warned would backfire with members of the public. Instead she advised them to respond to Sir Thomas with a mass letter-writing campaign.
Some backbenchers are talking about contributing £2,000 each to a fighting fund to mount a legal challenge to Sir Thomas's findings.
A spokesman for Sir Thomas said he had merely “interpreted” the old rules and had not made up new ones.
Reader views (28)
The most appalling news today is that Jaki Smith would "qualify"for elevation to the Lords should she not be elected at the next election.
There must be a concerted effort to prevent this last spit in the eye of the public.This woman was judged to have lied and misappropriated public money and was let off with an apology by a prejudiced committee.The public must not be insulted in this way.We should be getting the criminal scum OUT of the Lords not putting more in.
- P Doff, audierne france, 14/10/2009 07:19
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SOME LABOUR BACKBENCHERS WILL EACH PUT&2000 TO FUND A LEGAL CHALLANGE TO THIS RULE,WILL THEY THEN CLAIM THAT ON EXPENCES
- Findlay Glasgow, glasgow uk, 14/10/2009 03:59
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Ms Harman is a "law" unto herself. She like all politicians are PUBLIC servants, and have chosen to try to wriggle out of her guilt in misusing taxpayers money. She is a well educated, and poweful woman , and as such is even more guilty than many of her fellow politicians, Now we see them all covering up and wineing. They should be ashamed of themselves.
- Robin V, weybridge, 14/10/2009 00:04
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Hmm, didn't notice any regrets when MPs passed retroactive legislation in the past which adversely affected people. Nice to see what goes 'round comes 'round!
- N. Waters, Mississauga, Canada, 13/10/2009 22:51
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Nu Labor go away!
- Georgie, Islington, London, 13/10/2009 21:56
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MPs greed and lack of shame knows no bounds. Thatcher's proposal that public money is precious doesn't apply to greedy MPs. It would be nice to see if the request to pay up or lose the whip will be enforced.
- Edwin Underhill, beaconsfield buckinghamshire, 13/10/2009 21:26
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Just look at it as a 'Windfall' tax.
- Frank, Bournemouth, England, 13/10/2009 21:22
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I think it is more important for the police to bring charges against the blatant frauds committed, especialy by three or four members of the Lords.
Surely MPs are not so stupid as to think they can get expenses for houses they don't live in or to recover mortgage repayments as well as the interest.
Tacky Jacky should never get away with just an apology. Why is this ?
- Michael, London, UK, 13/10/2009 21:18
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This is nothing but fraud on a large scale,paybacks so far derisory,morals in with the pig swill.
When will honourable become a dirty word in parliament,as the old saying goes there is no hnour amongst thieves.
I know were my next vote will be going and it wont be to any of this bunch of despicable liars.
- Roy.C, wigan.england., 13/10/2009 20:49
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Those thieving crooks have the audacity to complain that the rules have been changed. No they haven't. Clegg has just interpreted the rules as they were meant to be interpreted and not the way those useless boot lickers who were passing their claims were doing!
But even if the rules have been changed so what! They were only changed to reclaim the money stolen from us by a bunch of thieves so they are now getting a taste of their own medicine.
- Andrew Kurowski, Blackheath, London, 13/10/2009 19:14
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Please tell me, over the last 12 years has there never
been any retrospective legislation? Ask the Chancellors involved. I know that certain financial benefits to the Government have been such, But that is OK. It is only OUR money AGAIN!
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19, 13/10/2009 19:11
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Funny how Mr. Brown has to pay back £12,000 while the others mentioned so far only pay back a few hundred.
Brown must be the dirtiest man , with the neatest in Parliament;
- Sally70, Bedford, 13/10/2009 18:36
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Within the rules of expense payments?... More like collusion with expenses office!!
Definately the tip of the iceberg, what about committee expenses?
Do we trust and expect our MPs have behaved honourably with taxpayers money for their committees??
- Gordon Kennedy, Dagenham & Rainham, 13/10/2009 18:07
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I understand that retrospection has sometimes been used in the past by Parliament in passing laws, particularly where it was felt that people had been exploiting financial systems (usually tax) legally, but in what was deemed an unfair or greedy or morally dubious way. Given the morally dubious and greedy way in which some MPs have been exploiting the expenses system, I think a degree of retrospection is called for despite the bleats from Westminster.
- James Elliott, Eastborne UK, 13/10/2009 18:04
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When can we read a COMPLETE list of who has overcharged their expenses, and by how much, so that we all know exactly who NOT to give our votes to? Come on Daily Telegraph. You had the guts to start this rolling, now put the knife in properly. Scum like these parasites shouldn't ever be allowed on the public payroll again.
- Poor Pensioner, London/England, 13/10/2009 17:47
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They really haven't changed at all have they? A mean spirited greedy lot only thinking of themselves and not of serving the public. Dave and Nick have the right approach and Gordon's got to be much tougher. What's Gordon got to lose as no one's got the guts to take him on anyway and he'll make himself more popular with us lot if he does.
- Stephen C, London, 13/10/2009 17:00
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I keep saying this over and over again.
If this happened in the private sector, police would be called, member of staff would get fired and monies repayed.
- Mario Kempe, london, 13/10/2009 16:59
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Here we go again... It was within the rules. When will these idiots realize that their credibility is destroyed and they are only ensuring people will vote for anyone but them come the next election.
if parties like the bnp and ukip get seats next time round I hope the current dishonorable members can look themselves in their taxpayer funded mirrors
- Chris, London, 13/10/2009 16:36
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Once snared a shark will wriggle to get off the hook and
so it is with these predators. as many of them will
find it hard to get a job with the perks previously
enjoyed after the next election they'll not be happy
to pay back any large sums, much already spent, as
they'll be needing every penny to cushion their plunge
into the reality already endured by joe public.
any future prospective employer might think long and
hard about the honesty and integrity of employing an ex
m .p.and one might further weigh up the customer/public reaction for a company with ex m.p's on the payroll.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 13/10/2009 16:34
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How dare anyone complain about are very hard working mp's.When will the general public get it into their heads our very hard working MP's know better.The idea that hard working MP's would grease their own careers and have an attitude of 'it's in the rules,so that's ok' is downright wrong.How our hard working MP's have to put up with this,now has to stop with immediate effect.Our hard working MP's have just returned to work after a short break of 82 days and if we are to uphold the integrity of parliament the public finally have to understand that our hard working MP's need time to ease themselves back into the swing of things.Just because a citizen has a vote does not give the right to harass our hard working mp's.Any one would think an MP wanted to leave the job,get a pay off and join the general public,who don't know the meaning of what it takes to be a hard working MP.
- Jonnie Of Brixton, brixton,london,england, 13/10/2009 16:32
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Have Tony Blair's expenses been scrutinised?
- Beatriz, London, 13/10/2009 16:23
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Widdecome: She said there was a “pretty big question mark over the legality of this”. She added: “If any other employer said: We have now changed the rules so here's a bill,' that employer would be up before a tribunal.”
If any employee had ripped off his/her company the way MPs have they'd have been prosecuted for fraud.
- Peter, Harrow, UK, 13/10/2009 16:19
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Whatever our elected 'Honorable Members' may say about the 'rules' as they were, they could at least show some willing and leadership by repaying some of the more outrages 'claims'. If they keep bleating about 'Those were the rules', then the Public's perception will still be of 'Greedy So-and-Sos' at a time of fiscal austerity for many.
If our 'Elected Honorable Members' still don't get it, then they are either thick, or they don't really care what the public's perception of them is.
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK, 13/10/2009 16:01
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An utter disgrace. They should be given 2 choices: 1) Stay and pay up or 2) Quit and pay up. No excuses, no exceptions.
- Anon, England, 13/10/2009 15:54
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Well, if British soldiers, injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, have to repay excessive amounts of compensation they have received, surely the same rules should apply to MPs who have received excessive amounts of expenses. Or are they to be permitted to operate under a different set of rules?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 13/10/2009 15:35
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It's a drop in the ocean. The public have had millions stolen from them, with these useless crooks supposedly protecting our interests. They should be in front of juries instead of grinning like jackanapes at their good fortune.
- Jf, London, 13/10/2009 15:35
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and what about the shadow cabinet? Given that they are apparently going to be forming the next government let's see what they are like!
- Andy, london, 13/10/2009 15:35
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These petty repayments are the tip of the iceberg.
Jackboot Straw could not add his expenses up correctly!
WHAT ABOUT ALL THE FLIPPING OF HOMES TO ACCRUE A PORTFOLIO OF EXPENSIVE PROPERTIES AS A NEST-EGG FOR MP's TO RETIRE ON?
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 13/10/2009 15:23
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