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Expenses claims focus on Lib Dems Expenses claims focus on Lib Dems
(40 minutes later)
Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George claimed for mortgage interest and furniture on a flat used by his student daughter, the Daily Telegraph says. Leading Liberal Democrat MPs will repay any profits made from second homes for which they have claimed parliamentary expenses, party leader Nick Clegg says.
The paper also says the party's former leader Sir Menzies Campbell claimed nearly £10,000 in expenses for a top designer to redecorate his London flat. He promised to "come down like a ton of bricks" on anyone abusing the system, following Daily Telegraph revelations about the use of Commons allowances.
Mr George denied his daughter lived in his flat. Sir Menzies said his own claim was in "the spirit of the rules". Lib Dem MP Andrew George has denied reports his daughter used a flat for which he claimed for mortgage interest.
The details on 12 Lib Dem MPs' claims are the latest across the parties. Ex-leader Sir Menzies Campbell claimed almost £10,000 to redecorate a flat.
According to the Telegraph, the St Ives MP Mr George claimed for furniture and £847 a month for mortgage interest on the £300,000 riverside flat in London, which was it claimed "used" by his 21-year-old daughter. But he said the expenditure on a top designer for the rented London property had been in "the spirit of the rules".
'Biggest abuse'
Having devoted several days' coverage to the use by Labour and the Conservative MPs of their second homes allowances, the Telegraph has moved on to the Lib Dems.
Mr Clegg told Sky News: "I will come down like a ton of bricks on any MP who has sought to defraud the taxpayer, profit for personal gain in the property market.
"So far, to my knowledge, not a single Liberal Democrat MP has committed the biggest abuse which has emerged in the revelations over the last few days, and that is flipping from one home to the other to avoid capital gains tax and to make a big personal profit."
He said that when MPs sell second homes paid for using allowances, all profits should be returned to the taxpayer, and that his frontbench team was already committed to this.
Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think the days of paying money, taxpayers' money for what you call fripperies - furniture and so on - are over."
According to the Telegraph, Mr George, MP for St Ives in Cornwall, claimed for furniture and £847 a month for mortgage interest on the £300,000 riverside flat in London, which was it claimed "used" by his 21-year-old daughter.
A Lib Dem spokesman said Mr George would not respond to the paper's allegations until he had read the full article.A Lib Dem spokesman said Mr George would not respond to the paper's allegations until he had read the full article.
But he denied what he understood to be the paper's claims that his daughter lived at the property in Rotherhithe.But he denied what he understood to be the paper's claims that his daughter lived at the property in Rotherhithe.
'No substantial claims''No substantial claims'
The paper said the former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies claimed for cushions, a king-sized bed and a flat-screen television. The newspaper said Sir Menzies, party leader from 2006 to 2007, had claimed for cushions, a king-sized bed and a flat-screen television.
Sir Menzies did not deny the allegations and said the claim was "within the spirit of the rules".Sir Menzies did not deny the allegations and said the claim was "within the spirit of the rules".
He is also said to have claimed thousands of pounds for food when Parliament was not sitting over the summer.He is also said to have claimed thousands of pounds for food when Parliament was not sitting over the summer.
They were for separate amounts of £800, £1,000 and £650, the Daily Telegraph said. They were for separate amounts of £800, £1,000 and £650, the Telegraph said.
There were also claims of £1,718 for laundry over four years, and more than £4,700 on parking bills at his flat, the paper added.There were also claims of £1,718 for laundry over four years, and more than £4,700 on parking bills at his flat, the paper added.
Sir Menzies said he had never owned property in London and argued he had not used his full second home allowance in previous years.Sir Menzies said he had never owned property in London and argued he had not used his full second home allowance in previous years.
"I have rented a one-room studio flat at Dolphin Square for approximately 20 years, during which time I have had no substantial claims for maintenance," he said."I have rented a one-room studio flat at Dolphin Square for approximately 20 years, during which time I have had no substantial claims for maintenance," he said.
"After 20 years my flat was in need of renovation as carpets, bed, television set and other items were in need of replacement.""After 20 years my flat was in need of renovation as carpets, bed, television set and other items were in need of replacement."
Sir Menzies said he used designer Amy Schellenberg - the daughter of a friend - because she represented value for money. Sir Menzies said he had used designer Amy Schellenberg - the daughter of a friend - because she represented value for money.
Trouser press claim Trouser press
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has already said his MPs must hand back any profit made from tax-subsidised second homes. Mr Clegg himself exceeded his second home allowance by £100, according to the Telegraph. He has agreed to repay a phone bill that included international calls.
He himself exceeded his second home allowance by £100, according to the paper. He has agreed to repay a phone bill that included international calls.
Other expenses by Lib Dem MPs included housing spokesman Lembit Opik claiming £40 for a court summons. He has agreed to repay the money.Other expenses by Lib Dem MPs included housing spokesman Lembit Opik claiming £40 for a court summons. He has agreed to repay the money.
Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne claimed £119 for a trouser press. A spokesman said he had already paid the money back.Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne claimed £119 for a trouser press. A spokesman said he had already paid the money back.
The latest revelations follow an apology by Conservative leader David Cameron, who said he was "appalled" by some of his MPs' expenses.The latest revelations follow an apology by Conservative leader David Cameron, who said he was "appalled" by some of his MPs' expenses.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has also said she will pay back capital gains tax worth £13,332 over the sale of her second home.Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has also said she will pay back capital gains tax worth £13,332 over the sale of her second home.