11 October 2009

Gordon Brown may be asked to pay back expenses

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October 11, 2009

Gordon Brown may be asked to pay back expenses

Gordon Brown is expected to be asked to pay back some money as part of the investigation into MPs’ expenses claims.

The scandal will be reignited tomorrow when MPs receive letters from Sir Thomas Legg, a QC and former civil servant who was appointed by the Commons to examine forensically MPs’claims.

The letters will draw attention to questionable payments and ask MPs to account for claims that appear excessive or “against the spirit of the rules”.

Several MPs are likely to face queries over cleaning bills. Downing Street sources have indicated that they expect Brown will be asked about his decision to share a cleaner with his brother, Andrew. He paid his brother £6,500. There is no suggestion of financial impropriety but sources expect that Brown could face questions about why he did not pay the cleaner directly and be asked to repay a portion of the sum.

A Downing Street source said last night: “Gordon has always said he would be prepared to pay back any money that is required of him.”

The prime minister, in common with more than 300 MPs who could be asked to repay money, has yet to hear from Legg. However, sources said it was “highly likely” he would have to repay some money.

MPs should also be forced to cover the £1m cost of the inquiry, parliamentary officials have told The Sunday Times.

Others who may be asked about claims include Mike Hall, the Labour MP for Weaver Vale in Cheshire, who charged nearly £15,000 over three years for his small house in Kennington to be cleaned and for his clothes to be laundered and ironed. Each month, he claimed between £100 and £200 for cleaning and a further £112 for dry cleaning, laundry and ironing. He also claimed up to £250 a month for “household sundries”, which reportedly included cleaning products. Hall was not available for comment.

Sir Patrick Cormack, Conservative MP for South Staffordshire, claimed £11,212 over four years for cleaning his two-bedroom flat in Dolphin Square near Westminster. He paid up to £260 a month for cleaning, laundry, window cleaning and dry cleaning. “These are normal expenses and not out of line with anyone’s living expenses in London,” he said.

Sources close to the inquiry say Legg’s team of investigators has found that 80-100 MPs received dubious payments. These included thousands of pounds to cover the entire cost of mortgages on second homes, rather than just the interest, and claims for “personal” and “luxury” items.

The sources said it would be desirable to recoup the cost of the audit from the MPs involved. “You are not going to get much change out of £1m from this inquiry. But we would not want to be out of pocket at the end of this,” said a source.

“It would be pretty unfortunate if the taxpayer [has] to shell out £1m for an inquiry into misuse of their money.”

Legg’s investigators have been looking at whether MPs have been improving their gardens at the taxpayer’s expense when they are allowed only to maintain them. The MPs whose gardening claims may be questioned include Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, who charged the taxpayer for having parts of his lawn “reseeded” and his driveway “reshingled” at a cost of more than £500. He later sold his Tudor cottage at a profit.

Lansley paid back some of the money for refurbishing the house after his claims were queried. Sources close to him said the gardening was necessary.

Anthony Steen, Tory MP for Totnes, who is stepping down from parliament after a furore over his expenses, is expected to face further scrutiny over his extensive gardening claims.Steen submitted an invoice for £459 so a forestry consultant could inspect trees on his land.

Gerald Howarth, Tory MP for Aldershot and shadow defence minister, claimed £161 for a barbecue and garden chairs and £123 for patio furniture. He said the claims had been approved by the Commons fees office.

After MPs receive their letters from Legg, they will have three weeks to produce invoices and evidence that the claims were within the rules. If their explanations are not accepted, they will be asked to repay the money.

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