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Senior MPs ‘use delaying tactics to avoid paying back expenses’
Joe Murphy, Political Editor06.11.09
Senior MPs today threatened to defy demands to repay expenses that were deemed to be over-claimed by auditor Sir Thomas Legg.
Several facing bills that in some cases run to tens of thousands of pounds are questioning Sir Thomas's verdict. Some are accused of using delaying tactics in the hope of retiring at the election without returning the money.
Frank Cook, a Labour MP who was deselected, said he was among MPs who were resisting pressure to repay money without question. “Legg said I paid too much for a refrigerator,” he said. “I have told him, if you please provide me with a copy of the guidelines that existed on that I will think about it. He has to justify asking me for money back just as much as I have to justify claiming the money in the first place.” Mr Cook told The Times: “I am exasperated and frustrated enough for both of us. But I won't pay up without justification and, if the one they provide is not good enough, I will tell them to p*** off.”
Jane Kennedy, another Labour MP, said some colleagues would pay money to local charities rather than the Commons authorities. “They really don't think they have done anything wrong,” she said.
Veteran Tory Sir Nicholas Winterton, who is retiring this year after claims that he milked the system by renting his home from a family trust, said many MPs were having “genuine difficulty getting hold of the correct documentation”, which had in some cases been lost by the fees office.
Sir Thomas was due to hand over his report setting out final repayment demands from MPs to the Commons authorities on Monday.
However, he has been delayed by MPs failing to produce documents such as original mortgage agreements on properties they bought at the taxpayers' expense. Tory leader David Cameron today said MPs who refuse to repay should have their allowances docked.
* The woman at the centre of a bitter Tory selection row today apologised for a “miscommunication” over her past affair with a Tory MP. Liz Truss, a married high-flier backed by David Cameron for the safe seat of South West Norfolk, came under attack for failing to tell her local party that she had a relationship with married MP Mark Field.
Reader views (4)
These MPs should be fired, prosecuted, and replaced!
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London
Their ultimate test is coming – the election, and the voters will deliver their judgement. Following that, 12 good men (& women) and true will deliver their verdict on some of then and some will go to jail.
- Very Angry At Mp'S Expenses, Home Counties
You´ve heard the expression "he who hesitates is lost"? If they hesitate any longer, sack them.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
What a load of snivelling, hypocritical, devious, bloated parasites there are loitering within the House of Conmen.
Get rid of 645 of these pigs with long smelly noses and replace them with 145 individuals who will represent the interests of the British people.
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
