Kent MPs asked to pay back expense claims by Sir Thomas Legg
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What has your MP been
asked to do by Sir Thomas Legg?
by political editor Paul Francis
A number of Kent’s MPs have been asked to repay money they
claimed in Parliamentary allowances, it has emerged.
Others have been given a clean bill of health and have been told
no money has to be paid back after a detailed audit of claims
dating back several years.
Among those being asked to refund money by Sir Thomas Legg
are: Julian Brazier; Canterbury MP; Ann Widdecombe, Maidstone and
the Weald MP; Paul Clark, Gillingham MP; Derek Wyatt, Sittingbourne
and Sheppey MP, Damian Green, Ashford MP and Adam Holloway, MP for
Gravesham.
Chatham and Aylesford MP Jonathan Shaw, Dr Howard Stoate for
Dartford and Faversham and Mid Kent MP Hugh Robertson have
learned their claims have all been cleared.
South Thanet MP Dr Steve Ladyman and Tunbridge Wells MP Greg
Clark have both been asked to provide more paperwork relating to
their mortgage claims. Roger Gale - MP for North Thanet - has been
queried over a mobile phone bill, while Dover and Deal MP Gwyn
Prosser must clarify a £650 claim for laminate flooring in
2006.
They all have three weeks to answer the requests.
Hear Dr Stephen Ladyman
talk about what he has been asked to do
Folkestone and Hythe MP Michael Howard has refused to divulge
the content of his letter at this time.
Some
of those who have been asked to repay money have signalled they may
contest the request.
Julian Brazier, who has been asked for £3,635
or justify four areas of spending, said he planned to challenge the
findings.
"The major item he has challenged is my annual subscription to
the Travellers Club. At approximately £1,000 per year, my
subscription gave me access to bedrooms that were less than half
the price of equivalent hotel accommodation."
~ Read more reaction from Mr
Brazier on the Kentish Gazette website >>>
Ann
Widdecombe, who has been asked to repay £235 for claims made
for gardening dating back several years ago, said she was
considering how to respond.
However, she said MPs’ disquiet over retrospective rules being
applied to claims that had been cleared by the Commons' authorities
was understandable.
MPs like her had tried to be "fastidious" in ensuring their
claims were correct and were now being told they had exceeded
limits that previously did not exist.
There was "a big question over the legality" of Sir Thomas's
approach, she added.
"I think he has exceeded his remit. I think he has done so to
meet a very widespread concern that people were using the second
allowance as a form of income - but in fact that is a concern
for the other review from Sir Christopher Kelly [who is chairing a
separate inquiry into expenses]."
Damian
Green said he would be repaying money claimed for cleaning
bills submitted between 2007 and 2009.
"I have been asked to pay back £1,324.96 on cleaning bills
covering the years 2007-2009, because of the retrospectively
imposed limit of £2,000 per year. In the interests of helping
Parliament concentrate in its proper job and not become stuck
discussing expenses, I will of course pay this sum back."
Paul Clark has been asked to repay
£164 for a claim submitted for a washing machine. He said he would
be re-imbursing the money. "The expenses system has comprehensively
failed and we need to move on and bite the bullet."
Derek
Wyatt has been told to pay back £2,893.49. The figure
comprises of a council tax overpayment of £1,290.30; a £776.76
service charge incurred when moving properties and £826.49 in
utility and insurance bills some of which are thought to have been
processed twice over the five-year period.
On his website, the MP said:“Sir
Thomas has identified a number of mistakes in my claims, and
subject to checking my paperwork, I am happy to rectify them.
"I did not come into politics to make money; I came into
politics to work hard for my constituents, my constituency and my
country. I believe my record in this respect would stand up to the
closest scrutiny. Where mistakes have been made by myself or the
Fees Office, they have been innocent ones, I apologise and I will
correct them."
Adam Holloway has been instructed to
repay £1,000 for accidentally claiming twice for council tax in
2007 following a final demand notice and has agreed to repay the
money.
He said: "Neither the editor, me, or the House of Commons
spotted it before - which is very annoying because in the couple of
years after I was elected I had huge costs, much of which was met
from my salary and savings."
Michael Howard said he would not be commenting
at this stage.
"I have had a letter, but I am not prepared to say any more
at this stage. The process is ongoing and will be made public. I
will speak at the appropriate time when the process is over.”
Mr Howard was in the spotlight in June when he denied reports
that he had claimed £17,351 for gardening services over four years.
He insisted the claims were “perfectly proper” and covered general
maintenance as well as gardening.
One of the county's MPs with no case to answer - Hugh Robertson - has urged his colleagues to pay
back any money requested "unless there is some fundamental
unfairness".
The rest of the county's MPs have been contacted but have yet to
respond.
Tuesday, October 13 2009
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