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Expenses-row MP denies 'house ban'
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The head of the Commons committee that deals with MPs' expenses abuse has dismissed an allegation that his wife banned him from the constituency home he claimed for as "akin to Harry Potter".
Tory MP David Curry admitted having an affair but defended his record on expenses after being forced to stand down pending an inquiry.
Mr Curry is facing allegations that he claimed almost £30,000 towards the cost of a property that it was claimed his wife does not allow him to use.
But he said he has been spending more time with his wife of 38 years to patch up their relationship.
Speaking from his family home in Saffron Waldon, Essex, he said: "My wife has not banned me from anything. I had an affair, there is no denying that. We got over it. If you were repairing your relationship with someone, you would want to spend as much time with them as possible."
On his expenses, he added: "My expenses are very modest. They are completely above board. I am the second cheapest MP in Yorkshire."
According to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Curry's wife demanded he did not use the cottage in his Yorkshire constituency after she discovered five years ago that he was having an affair.
But challenged over the allegation today, he said: "That's akin to Harry Potter. I have stayed in it hundreds, if not thousands, of times. I have had the house since 1987, I have not bought it on a speculative whim."
After the claims emerged, the MP for Skipton and Ripon referred his case to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards John Lyon, who investigates alleged expenses misuse. Mr Lyon's reports are passed to the Standards and Privileges Committee - of which Mr Curry was elected chairman last month - to recommend punishment, where necessary.
Mr Curry said he was willing to share any information with the parliamentary commissioner, adding: "I am not expecting to end up in the Tower of London."
