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MPs furious over pay-back letters
Reporter: by Richard Hooton
Date online: 13/10/2009
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has urged MPs to follow his lead in paying back excessive expenses claims.
But many backbenchers are livid that they must now repay claims that were fully approved by Commons officials..
Hundreds of MPs have had their expenses claims for the last five years reassessed by Sir Thomas Legg and been sent letters on what he feels they should pay back.
Mr Brown is to pay back £12,415 that he claimed largely for cleaning and gardening and has urged Labour backbenchers to follow his example.
And Tory leader David Cameron warned his own MPs they faced being barred from standing as Conservatives if they failed to pay back money.
But many MPs are angry that Sir Thomas has applied new limits to categories like gardening and cleaning.
Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said he had not yet received his letter but was not expecting any problems.
He claimed the issue had been misreported and expressed concerns that MPs were being judged on their past behaviour under new standards that have been set since the expenses scandal erupted.
He said: “What the letter says, apparently, is they are provisional and open to discussion.
“I hope that people recognise that if they have changed the rules in retrospect it puts people in a difficult position.
“I think we have to draw a line under it. I’m fed up of it.
“It’s completely distracting from getting on with the job.”
Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher and Ashton MP David Heyes, whose constituency covers Hollinwood and Failsworth, are yet to reveal what their letters say.
Have Your Say
Well I would really like to see what the councillors are claiming for! Lets face it they are just learning from the MPs on the gravy train
“It’s completely distracting from getting on with the job.”
Yes Phil what job would that be? -MP's snouts back in the trough or calling for a euro referendum? We'll treat you with the same contempt that you treat us. Bring on the elections.
How come we are not seeing any of the mps done for fraud.
It must be hard trying to get on with things when you are as guilty as the rest--pity joe public doesnt get off as easy.
Woo£yass is concerned at MPs being judged on their past behaviour. Too bloody true you are and what disgraceful, deceitful, crooked behaviour it is! Mostly it's just basic theft! The rule changes are to stop you troughers filling yer boots. If doing so in retrospect puts any of you in a difficult position. Tough titty! You think we have to draw a line under it cos you're fed up of it, you ain't gonna get off so easily. On the subject of 'fed up': Still claiming £400 pm so we can feed you?
Meac£er's probably unsure which of his seven properties the letter has been sent to. Most likely the one he's claiming £200 per month mortgage interest on.
It beggars belief that the idiots still don't get it. It's not just what the rules said, it's the spirit of those rules. The expenses were never intended to help them line their pockets & they know it. That the Fees Office approved the claims shows only that they were in collusion with MP's .
£12,000 in expenses that's more than many low paid civil servants earn in a year, it's more than many families have to exist on! it's immoral. no wonder our MPs want to draw a line under this. Labour looks like the rip-off class now
By Barros @ 13/10/2009 12:49:02
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