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Labour MP Andrew Dismore was today reported to the Standards Commissioner over his £65,000 second home expenses.
The Sunlight Centre for Open Politics made the formal complaint over allegations about the backbencher's claims — which he says are above board.
The news comes as the Hendon MP today hit out at “knee-jerk” calls for him to quit a Commons sleaze watchdog.
Mr Dismore, who sits on the Standards and Privileges Committee, rejects accusations that he “flipped” his home designation or wasted public money on paying his partner for computer consultancy.
Mr Dismore told the Standard he would now ask his committee colleagues for advice on his future, raising the possibility he may step aside.
But he made clear that he wanted to stay in his post because he felt he had done nothing wrong in claiming £65,000 in second homes allowance in the past eight years. Mr Dismore claimed that the Daily Telegraph wanted to abolish his committee — which is accused of protecting MPs accused of expenses misclaims — and was “picking us off one by one”.
Last week committee chairman David Curry quit his post after it emerged that he had claimed £30,000 for a cottage used for an extra-marital affair.
Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, last night called on Mr Dismore to stand down because members of the conduct committee had to be “squeaky clean”.
He said: “Its longest-standing member having question marks over his own claims does not fit with this. I think the only sensible thing for him to do is follow Mr Curry and stand down.”
But Mr Dismore said Sir Alistair had clearly not been aware of the full facts of the case. “I think he's just got into a knee-jerk reaction. I don't think he has seen the full explanation. I will ask colleagues on the committee what they think, ask them to hear my explanation and how we can sort this out, but the decision will be mine.”
Between 2001 and 2003, Mr Dismore claimed £34,000 in second home allowances on a flat in Notting Hill, where his partner Linda Julian runs a homoeopathy clinic. He had declared his house in his constituency was his “main home”. In 2003, he then switched the second home designation and claimed a further £31,000 for the Notting Hill flat.
Today Mr Dismore said he had not “flipped” his properties for financial gain but to comply with Commons second-home rules. He also denied claims he had misused taxpayers' cash in paying Ms Julian £1,000 in office expenses for computer work.
Reader views (11)
Emma, as a constituent of Hendon who voted for Dismore since '97, I can tell you now, there is not a hope in hell I will give him my vote come the next election, that also applies to many people I know who voted for him before. Especially after the PBR of yesterday which just screws workers and leaves public servants and workshysters cocooned and laughing at suckers who pay the highest (if stealth taxes included) amount of their income to a useless govt.
- Prakash, London, 10/12/2009 14:26
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Perhaps if anyone who has commented actually read the entirety of the article above, it would become apparent that Mr Dismore has kept well within his rights to claim the expenses that he has over the past 8 years.
Evidently his 'second home' is well worth the money spent and entirely a matter of convenience in terms of the commute between Westminster and Notting Hill, and therefore evidently is unrelated to personal financial gain (whilst simultaneously being well within his expenses rights), whilst his payment to his partner, a former COMPUTER EXPERT with 20 years experience, would have cost him a hell of a lot less than hiring somebody else.
It seems that the 'knee jerk' reaction that Mr Dismore has spoken about applies not only to Sir Alistair Graham, but also to his very constituents. What an undignified response to a hard-working, respected and subsequently very worthy MP.
- Emma, London, 24/11/2009 23:02
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Democracy in the UK is little better than the sewage that flows out of Westminster each day. What is needed is a Taxpayers MASS PROTEST MARCH to Parliament, (then burn it to the ground!) that would solve the problem. ENOUNGH IS ENOUGH!
- Frank, Bristol, 23/11/2009 21:58
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Flippin' disgraceful. Two thirds of the members on Standards should be Independents.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 23/11/2009 13:31
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Come on Martin Bell we need you in Barnet
- Jeanette Eccles Hg Suburb, London, 23/11/2009 13:16
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What sort of fantasy world do MPs such as Mr Dismore live in? London has a dire shortage of housing yet this man thinks he is so important that he deserves to get two properties. Disgraceful.
- Simon Walters, London, 23/11/2009 13:14
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Erm.. No Mr Dismore. The decision will be your constituents. Guess you are just another MP who doesn't get it!
- Chris, London, 23/11/2009 12:32
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The only HONOURABLE course would be for him to step down.Sadly we have become used to this generation of politicians acting in a dishonourable fashion and Mr Dismore will cling on to his position on the Standards & Privileges Committee.No Standards & as many Privileges as we can profit.
- Peter Doff, Filey Yorkshire, 23/11/2009 12:25
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Is this all not becoming just a wee bit silly. -There is 'fraud' and there are legitimate expenses. -You can't imply that every M.P. who ever claimed expenses is some sort of rogue.
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 23/11/2009 12:05
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Hendon MP Andrew Dismore is living in a dreamworld if he thinks he has done nothing wrong by claiming a total of 65,000 pounds in expenses for two homes both within easy reach of Westminster.
His constituents are more likely to think he has had his nose in the trough in a big way.
Dismore may not have broken any rules but he has taken advantage of them to cream off a fat sum of money for his own benefit when he quite clearly does not need a second home at all because his constituency is a short Tube ride from parliament.
- Andrew Newby, Barnet Green Party, Whetstone, London, N20, UK, 23/11/2009 10:44
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The committee should have no MP's on it.
- Shallotman, Basildon, 23/11/2009 10:00
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