Expenses claims of MPs who backed secrecy revealed
Expenses claims made by five MPs who tried to keep them secret by blocking their public release are the latest to be revealed by the Daily Telegraph.
The five individuals backed a 2007 bill to exempt parliament from the Freedom of Information Act – an action which would have seen their details remain hidden.
The Sunday Telegraph claims Tory David Maclean, who introduced the bill to parliament, used £20,000 of taxpayer’s money to do up a property before selling it without paying capital gains tax.
Labour MP and former whip Fraser Kemp has also reportedly agreed to pay back money after claiming for two DVD players in one month and 16 sheets in seven weeks.
While Labour’s David Clelland is alleged to have “bought up” his partner’s share in a joint mortgage using taxpayer’s money.
The latest allegations came after Gordon Brown attempted to get a control on the situation and bring an end to almost two weeks of damaging revelations.
The prime minister said on Saturday any MP found guilty of breaching the rules would potentially lose their job.
Writing in the News of the World, he said: “I am appalled and angered by this week’s revelations. Appalled because at all times people should expect the highest standards from people in public life. Angered because I was brought up to believe that you did the right thing – and that trust, integrity and honesty are the most precious assets of all.
“I want to assure every citizen of my commitment to a complete clean-up of the system – that wherever and whenever immediate disciplinary action is required, I will take it.
“The bottom line is that any MP who is found to have defied the rules will not be serving in my government.”
Yesterday, David Chaytor was suspended from the Labour party after it emerged be reportedly claimed £13,000 for a mortgage that had already been paid off.
