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12/10/2009
Jacqui Smith Must 'Say Sorry To Commons'
Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has been ordered to again apologise in the House of Commons - this time over her second home allowances.
Back in March, she apologised for a wrongful claim for pornographic films.
Smith (pictured) said: "I am sorry that, in claiming for my internet connection, I mistakenly claimed for a television package alongside it.
"As soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I took immediate steps to contact the relevant parliamentary authorities and rectify the situation. All money claimed for the television package will be paid back in full."
Now, the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee has said she must make a formal apology in the House of Commons over allowances, but also said no further action should be taken on the previous expenses claimed for porn movies watched by her husband.
The watchdog's report said the MP for Redditch had already acknowledged that these claims were unallowable and paid back the money.
The Standards Inquiry by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, John Lyon, found Ms Smith had designated her sister's house in London, which she shares, as her "main home" and then claimed second home allowances on her family home in Redditch.
Mr Lyon upheld both complaints in the report and recommended Ms Smith apologise to the House of Commons for the home designation.
The committee concluded: "Ms Smith clearly breached the rules of the House by wrongly designating her main home from 2004 to 2009.
"We recommend that Ms Smith apologise to the House by means of a personal statement."
The report recognised that she had many heavy responsibilities at the time but said she clearly did not treat her claims with the "care expected of all those who look for reimbursement from the public purse".
In a written response to the inquiry Ms Smith said: "I am disappointed that this process has not led to a fairer set of conclusions, based on objective and consistent application of the rules as they were at the time."
Ms Smith was one of the first high profile ministers to resign from Prime Minister Gordon Brown's front bench team in June after the scandal.
She was followed by Hazel Blears, Beverly Hughes and Caroline Flint as part of a wide-ranging re-shuffle.
See: Smith Apologises Over Adult Film Expenses
See: Jacqui Smith's 'Humiliation'
(GK/BMcC)
Back in March, she apologised for a wrongful claim for pornographic films.
Smith (pictured) said: "I am sorry that, in claiming for my internet connection, I mistakenly claimed for a television package alongside it.
"As soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I took immediate steps to contact the relevant parliamentary authorities and rectify the situation. All money claimed for the television package will be paid back in full."
Now, the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee has said she must make a formal apology in the House of Commons over allowances, but also said no further action should be taken on the previous expenses claimed for porn movies watched by her husband.
The watchdog's report said the MP for Redditch had already acknowledged that these claims were unallowable and paid back the money.
The Standards Inquiry by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, John Lyon, found Ms Smith had designated her sister's house in London, which she shares, as her "main home" and then claimed second home allowances on her family home in Redditch.
Mr Lyon upheld both complaints in the report and recommended Ms Smith apologise to the House of Commons for the home designation.
The committee concluded: "Ms Smith clearly breached the rules of the House by wrongly designating her main home from 2004 to 2009.
"We recommend that Ms Smith apologise to the House by means of a personal statement."
The report recognised that she had many heavy responsibilities at the time but said she clearly did not treat her claims with the "care expected of all those who look for reimbursement from the public purse".
In a written response to the inquiry Ms Smith said: "I am disappointed that this process has not led to a fairer set of conclusions, based on objective and consistent application of the rules as they were at the time."
Ms Smith was one of the first high profile ministers to resign from Prime Minister Gordon Brown's front bench team in June after the scandal.
She was followed by Hazel Blears, Beverly Hughes and Caroline Flint as part of a wide-ranging re-shuffle.
See: Smith Apologises Over Adult Film Expenses
See: Jacqui Smith's 'Humiliation'
(GK/BMcC)
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Former home secretary Jacqui Smith has spoken of the anguish caused to her family during the expenses scandal. Ms Smith, the first woman to ever head-up the Home Office, said revelations her husband had charged the cost of two pay-per-view porn movies to the taxpayer were humiliating.
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Home Secretary Jacqui Smith 'To Step Down'
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