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11th May, 2009, 05:30 AM
MPs' Expenses: Tories In The Firing Line
2:05am UK, Monday May 11, 2009
A number of senior Conservatives including shadow leader of the house Alan Duncan have been drawn into the growing row over MP's expenses.
Alan Duncan
Alan Duncan claimed thousands on gardening
The Daily Telegraph has revealed expenses claims for a number of members of the Shadow Cabinet.
It claims Michael Gove and Andrew Lansley 'flipped' properties designated as their second homes in order to claim expenses on new properties.
The paper alleges Cheryl Gillan claimed for dog food on her expenses - money which she has said she will repay.
Shadow universities secretary David Willetts reportedly claimed more than ?100 for workmen to replace 25 light bulbs at his home.
Oliver Letwin, chairman of the Conservatives' policy team, apparently received more than ?2,000 to replace a leaking pipe under a tennis court.
CAMERON'S REACTION
The Telegraph says Mr Duncan claimed thousands of pounds for his garden, although he stopped when he agreed with the fees office the expenditure "could be considered excessive".
In a three-year period, Mr Duncan recouped more than ?4,000, though in March 2007, a bill for ?3,194 was not paid after it was suggested it might not be "within the spirit" of the rules, the newspaper said.
In a letter to Mr Duncan, the fees office said that it expected gardening costs "to cover only basic essentials such as grass cutting".
Michael Gove
Michael Gove: Accused of 'flipping'
Mr Duncan, who is responsible for overseeing Tory policy on expenses, apparently submitted receipts indicating his gardener was being paid ?6 an hour for up to 16 hours a week, even though the grounds were less than an acre.
In March 2007, he claimed ?598 to overhaul a ride-on lawn-mower and then a further ?41 to fix a puncture a month later.
In a statement he insisted: "Everything I have claimed has been legitimate and approved by the fees office."
Referring to the bill for ?3,194, he added: "It was I who raised the issue with the fees office and although it was a legitimate claim, we agreed that it might be seen as too large a single item."
George Osborne
Shadow chancellor George Osborne
Tory leader David Cameron said voters had a right to be angry about the revelations.
He said it was going to be "another bad day for parliament and frankly another bad day for the the Conservative Party".
He added:"We are sorry that this happened and it needs to change."
Mr Cameron is one of the members of the Shadow Cabinet whose expenses have not been implicated, along with his deputy William Hague and shadow chancellor George Osborne.
Labour is angry that the initial raft of revelations focused on members of the Government, but the Telegraph says "MPs of all parties" have made questionable expenses claims.
2:05am UK, Monday May 11, 2009
A number of senior Conservatives including shadow leader of the house Alan Duncan have been drawn into the growing row over MP's expenses.
Alan Duncan
Alan Duncan claimed thousands on gardening
The Daily Telegraph has revealed expenses claims for a number of members of the Shadow Cabinet.
It claims Michael Gove and Andrew Lansley 'flipped' properties designated as their second homes in order to claim expenses on new properties.
The paper alleges Cheryl Gillan claimed for dog food on her expenses - money which she has said she will repay.
Shadow universities secretary David Willetts reportedly claimed more than ?100 for workmen to replace 25 light bulbs at his home.
Oliver Letwin, chairman of the Conservatives' policy team, apparently received more than ?2,000 to replace a leaking pipe under a tennis court.
CAMERON'S REACTION
The Telegraph says Mr Duncan claimed thousands of pounds for his garden, although he stopped when he agreed with the fees office the expenditure "could be considered excessive".
In a three-year period, Mr Duncan recouped more than ?4,000, though in March 2007, a bill for ?3,194 was not paid after it was suggested it might not be "within the spirit" of the rules, the newspaper said.
In a letter to Mr Duncan, the fees office said that it expected gardening costs "to cover only basic essentials such as grass cutting".
Michael Gove
Michael Gove: Accused of 'flipping'
Mr Duncan, who is responsible for overseeing Tory policy on expenses, apparently submitted receipts indicating his gardener was being paid ?6 an hour for up to 16 hours a week, even though the grounds were less than an acre.
In March 2007, he claimed ?598 to overhaul a ride-on lawn-mower and then a further ?41 to fix a puncture a month later.
In a statement he insisted: "Everything I have claimed has been legitimate and approved by the fees office."
Referring to the bill for ?3,194, he added: "It was I who raised the issue with the fees office and although it was a legitimate claim, we agreed that it might be seen as too large a single item."
George Osborne
Shadow chancellor George Osborne
Tory leader David Cameron said voters had a right to be angry about the revelations.
He said it was going to be "another bad day for parliament and frankly another bad day for the the Conservative Party".
He added:"We are sorry that this happened and it needs to change."
Mr Cameron is one of the members of the Shadow Cabinet whose expenses have not been implicated, along with his deputy William Hague and shadow chancellor George Osborne.
Labour is angry that the initial raft of revelations focused on members of the Government, but the Telegraph says "MPs of all parties" have made questionable expenses claims.