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25/06/2009
Tory MPs Repay Extra £125k In Expense Claims
Conservative MPs are to pay back another £125,000 in expenses claims following an inquiry into the party's expenses.
The repayments are in addition to the £135,000 already repaid by Tory politicians, following the examination of the party's MP claims by the scrutiny panel.
The panel was set up by the Conservatives after the Daily Telegraph highlighted a number of claims. This led to Tory MPs agreeing to pay back £125,000.
MPs James Arbuthnot, John Butterfill, Eleanor Laing, Michael Spicer and Peter Viggers are all to pay back money after the investigation.
Meanwhile, other politicians Michael Ancram, Iain Duncan Smith, John Gummer and John Redwood have all volunteered to pay back second home allowances.
"Conservative MPs have responded in a positive way and shown a real desire to take the lead on this damaging issue," Leader David Cameron said.
"It's an effort - both collectively as a party and individually as Conservative MPs - to address the public's anger about what has happened."
Mr Cameron also said Tories had gone further than Labour and Liberal Democrats in considering whether claims had been "disproportionate", saying the agreement of a particular MP to make a repayment did not indicate guilt or a breach of the rules.
Cameron said that his MPs had responded "in a positive way" to his decision to set up the panel.
"Unlike Labour and the Lib Dems, we have not just contented ourselves by accepting the tired old justification that something is 'within the rules'," Cameron said.
"Instead we have gone beyond the letter of the rules, examined claims in detail and sought to agree, together, claims which while we believe them to have been properly made, could be regarded as disproportionate."
(JM/BMcC)
The repayments are in addition to the £135,000 already repaid by Tory politicians, following the examination of the party's MP claims by the scrutiny panel.
The panel was set up by the Conservatives after the Daily Telegraph highlighted a number of claims. This led to Tory MPs agreeing to pay back £125,000.
MPs James Arbuthnot, John Butterfill, Eleanor Laing, Michael Spicer and Peter Viggers are all to pay back money after the investigation.
Meanwhile, other politicians Michael Ancram, Iain Duncan Smith, John Gummer and John Redwood have all volunteered to pay back second home allowances.
"Conservative MPs have responded in a positive way and shown a real desire to take the lead on this damaging issue," Leader David Cameron said.
"It's an effort - both collectively as a party and individually as Conservative MPs - to address the public's anger about what has happened."
Mr Cameron also said Tories had gone further than Labour and Liberal Democrats in considering whether claims had been "disproportionate", saying the agreement of a particular MP to make a repayment did not indicate guilt or a breach of the rules.
Cameron said that his MPs had responded "in a positive way" to his decision to set up the panel.
"Unlike Labour and the Lib Dems, we have not just contented ourselves by accepting the tired old justification that something is 'within the rules'," Cameron said.
"Instead we have gone beyond the letter of the rules, examined claims in detail and sought to agree, together, claims which while we believe them to have been properly made, could be regarded as disproportionate."
(JM/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
