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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| MP Conway ordered to repay money | MP Conway ordered to repay money |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A standards watchdog has ordered MP Derek Conway to repay £3,757 of taxpayers' money used to employ his elder son Henry. | |
| He was also told to make a written apology to the House of Commons by the Standards and Privileges Committee. | He was also told to make a written apology to the House of Commons by the Standards and Privileges Committee. |
| It said Mr Conway had made a "serious lapse" of judgement in overpaying his son while he was a student in London. | |
| The MP was suspended from Parliament last year for paying younger son Freddie while a student in Newcastle. | |
| The committee released its report on payments to Henry following a complaint from Labour MP John Mann. | |
| It notes that Henry Conway worked for his father from 1 July 2001 to 1 October 2004, during which he earned £35,744 before tax. | |
| 'No hard evidence' | |
| It says: "While we note that there is more circumstantial evidence of Henry Conway working for his father than there was in the case of Freddie Conway, it is unfortunate that there is no hard evidence." | |
| The report also says: "However, Henry Conway was a student at the Courtauld Institute of Art near Westminster; he lived at his parents' flat in Westminster; and he was seen about the Palace of Westminster on several occasions." | |
| The committee said it would be "unfair" to suggest Henry Conway had not done any work, but it added that Henry had been paid £3,757.83 over the normal rate for someone with his level of experience. | |
| The reports said: "This case has demonstrated a serious lapse of judgement by an experienced Member of the House. | |
| "Nevertheless, considering it on its own merits, we conclude that a further period of suspension from the House would be a disproportionate sanction to impose." | |
| MPs will vote on whether to impose the punishments recommended by the committee. | |
| Mr Conway was told last year to repay £13,161 of money paid to younger son Freddie and to make an apology on the floor of the House of Commons. He was also suspended for 10 days. | |
| BBC political correspondent David Thompson said it appeared the committee had found the complaints over Henry "slightly less serious" than those over Freddie. | |
| Mr Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has already lost the Conservative whip and has said he will stand down at the next general election. |