Tory MP under fire for au pair claim
By politics.co.uk staff
A Tory MP is furiously denying claims he hired an au pair using his parliamentary expenses, following another damaging revelation.
Jonathan Djanogly, the shadow solicitor general, said the woman in question worked as a cleaner but did not provide childcare.
The Telegraph says the student placed an advert for an au pairs job on the website newaupair.com in which she described herself as a nanny.
Mr Djanogly said she replied to an advert on a website for cleaners.
“I reconfirm my position that my claims were made within the law and the rules of the second-home allowance scheme,” the Huntingdon MP said.
The newspaper said he claimed £400 a month for a cleaner at his constituency home, despite staying there only three days a week. Mr Djanogly, a millionaire, said the claims were more like £260 a month.
“Ms G has now signed a written statement that she was employed by us from October 2007 to November 2008 only as a cleaner at our constituency home in Huntingdon,” he said.
Mr Djanogly has said he will not make any further second-home allowance claims this financial year.
“I will not make any further claims in respect of my second home until the system has been reformed,” he added.
Mr Djanogly will defend his expenses to party members at a special meeting in Huntingdon.
A constituency party spokesperson said there was considerable support for Mr Djanogly.
The story is the first expenses story to hit the front pages for some time, with the scandal having died down in recent weeks.
