MPs’ expenses: Bill Cash fights for his political life
By Ian Dunt
Veteran Tory MP and arch eurosceptic Bill Cash is fighting to save his political career today as all the signs point towards him becoming the next politician to fall on his sword.
He is accused of paying his daughter rent from his parliamentary expenses despite owning a flat close to parliament.
He named his daughter’s London flat his second home between 2004-05 and then claimed rent, according to the Telegraph, which has been drip-feeding expenses revelations for weeks.
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David Cameron said he “had some very serious questions to answer”.
The revelation follows three further MPs falling on their swords.
Yesterday Julie Kirkbride and Christopher Fraser for the Conservatives and Margaret Moran for Labour all said they would step down at the next election.
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Mr Fraser said he was leaving politics to care for his ill wife.
Westminster was still in turmoil today, even with MPs preparing to return to parliament when it reopens after a week off on Monday.
Business secretary Lord Mandelson voiced some concern about how the scandal had progressed.
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“In some cases people have reached too hasty judgements about individual MPs,” he said.
“On the other hand there’s an acceptance by members of parliament they made an error of judgement.”
Mr Cash said he was prepared to pay back the money – around £15,000 – but that “what is lawful is appropriate”. He insisted any payment would be made after a “fair hearing” by the internal party scrutiny committee.
Margaret Moran statement in full
In a frantic series of media interviews today, he said the decision to stay with his daughter allowed him to rent out his Pimlico flat to his son rent-free.
The MP for Stone and Staffordshire was breaking no rules when he paid his daughter the rent, although the rules were changed in 2006 so MPs were barred from renting property from a family member.
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The paper claimed his daughter – who is an aspiring politician planning to stand at the next election – later sold the flat for £48,000 profit.
Mr Cash stressed he had never claimed allowances on his larger principle residence and that he had not rented out his own property when staying with his daughter.
