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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour peer faces allowance probe | Labour peer faces allowance probe |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Labour peer Baroness Uddin is to be investigated over allegations she claimed £100,000 in allowances for a flat that is reportedly lying empty. | Labour peer Baroness Uddin is to be investigated over allegations she claimed £100,000 in allowances for a flat that is reportedly lying empty. |
| The House of Lords authorities are to look into the allegations, relating to a Kent property owned by the peer. | The House of Lords authorities are to look into the allegations, relating to a Kent property owned by the peer. |
| The Sunday Times said she claimed a second home allowance for the flat near Maidstone, despite not living there. | The Sunday Times said she claimed a second home allowance for the flat near Maidstone, despite not living there. |
| Baroness Uddin said she "welcomed" the investigation, insisting that she had not broken the parliamentary rules. | Baroness Uddin said she "welcomed" the investigation, insisting that she had not broken the parliamentary rules. |
| Full co-operation | Full co-operation |
| She said she had "regularly" stayed in the two-bedroom property and would co-operate fully with the inquiry. | She said she had "regularly" stayed in the two-bedroom property and would co-operate fully with the inquiry. |
| According to the Sunday Times, the peer designated the flat as her main home, enabling her to claim the second home allowance for a separate property in east London, only several miles away from Parliament. | |
| I welcome this review and will co-operate fully with him in the hope of a speedy resolution Baroness Uddin | I welcome this review and will co-operate fully with him in the hope of a speedy resolution Baroness Uddin |
| The newspaper quoted neighbours of Baroness Uddin's in Kent as saying that the property was not occupied or even furnished. | The newspaper quoted neighbours of Baroness Uddin's in Kent as saying that the property was not occupied or even furnished. |
| The investigation, to be carried out by the Clerk of the House of Lords, was triggered after a complaint was made by the SNP. | The investigation, to be carried out by the Clerk of the House of Lords, was triggered after a complaint was made by the SNP. |
| Following a meeting with Baroness Royall, Labour leader in the House of Lords, Baroness Uddin issued a statement noting the investigation into her expenses claims. | Following a meeting with Baroness Royall, Labour leader in the House of Lords, Baroness Uddin issued a statement noting the investigation into her expenses claims. |
| "I welcome this review and will co-operate fully with him in the hope of a speedy resolution and clarify that I did not break the rules of the House," she said. | "I welcome this review and will co-operate fully with him in the hope of a speedy resolution and clarify that I did not break the rules of the House," she said. |
| Baroness Uddin, a former deputy leader of Tower Hamlets Borough Council, was made a life peer by Tony Blair in 1998. | Baroness Uddin, a former deputy leader of Tower Hamlets Borough Council, was made a life peer by Tony Blair in 1998. |
| The row is the latest over the controversial second homes allowance used to compensate MPs and peers for having to stay in London to carry out their parliamentary duties. | The row is the latest over the controversial second homes allowance used to compensate MPs and peers for having to stay in London to carry out their parliamentary duties. |
| A series of disputes over claims made by Labour ministers prompted Gordon Brown to refer the issue of the second homes allowance for MPs to the Committee on Standards in Public Life. | A series of disputes over claims made by Labour ministers prompted Gordon Brown to refer the issue of the second homes allowance for MPs to the Committee on Standards in Public Life. |
| Mr Brown had called for the second homes allowance to be scrapped in favour of a daily attendance fee for MPs but backed away from a vote on the issue after opposition parties and some Labour MPs refused to back the measure. | Mr Brown had called for the second homes allowance to be scrapped in favour of a daily attendance fee for MPs but backed away from a vote on the issue after opposition parties and some Labour MPs refused to back the measure. |