'I've done nothing wrong': Howard in £17,000 gardening claim
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by political editor Paul Francis
Kent MP Michael Howard -the former Tory leader - has firmly
denied any wrongdoing after it was alleged he claimed thousands in
allowances for gardening services.
The Folkestone and Hythe MP is alleged by the Daily Telegraph
today to have claimed more than £17,000 in allowances for services
provided by two gardening companies at his home near
Folkestone.
Mr Howard insisted all his claims were "perfectly proper."
He is quoted in the Telegraph as saying: "By no means all the
sums claimed were for gardening services. The person who looks
after the garden at my second home also maintains the house. The
claim, therefore, was for general maintenance, including the
maintenance of the garden."
Audio: Michael Howard MP justifies
the gardening claim
"I need a second home to perform my duties as a Member of
Parliament and the maintenance of that home, including the garden,
was a perfectly proper charge against the additional costs
allowance."
According to the Telegraph, between 2004 and 2008, Mr Howard
employed The Turned Worm Gardening Company in Hythe and another
gardener to work on his property. Over four years, he received
invoices from both which came to a total of £17,351.
Mr Howard said in a recent poll he was ranked the 17th least
expensive Conservative and the 31st least expensive MP overall.
He wrote on his website on May 18: "The public are right to be
angry about the conduct of those MPs who have abused the
system."
Monday, June 01 2009
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