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Expenses claims focus on Lib Dems Expenses claims focus on Lib Dems
(about 1 hour later)
Leading Liberal Democrat MPs will repay any profits made from second homes for which they have claimed parliamentary expenses, party leader Nick Clegg 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.
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. The promise comes after the Daily Telegraph revealed Mr Clegg had last year exceeded his maximum allowance and had to give back more than £100.
Lib Dem MP Andrew George has denied reports his daughter used a flat for which he claimed for mortgage interest. Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne claimed for items such as biscuits and a trouser press, the newspaper adds.
Ex-leader Sir Menzies Campbell claimed almost £10,000 to redecorate a flat.Ex-leader Sir Menzies Campbell claimed almost £10,000 to redecorate a flat.
But he said the expenditure on a top designer for the rented London property had been in "the spirit of the rules". But Sir Menzies said the expenditure on a top designer for the rented London property had been in "the spirit of the rules".
'Biggest abuse''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. Having devoted several days' coverage to the use by Labour and the Conservative MPs of their second homes allowances and other expenses, 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. Mr Clegg is alleged "regularly" to have claimed all, or very nearly all, of his second home allowance - currently worth up to £24,000 a year for MPs with constituencies outside greater London - having had more than £100 docked when he exceeded the limit last year.
But the Lib Dem leader told Sky News that he and his frontbench team would return any profits made on properties paid for with public money.
Many MPs confide in me that they have members of their family staying with them. From now on my family will come and stay with me at the flat more not less. We should encourage families to be together. Andrew George, Lib Dem MP Brown wants all claims reviewed 'Appalled' Cameron leads payback
He said: "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.""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. Other expenses items listed by the newspaper for Mr Clegg, MP for Sheffield Hallam, include a mobile phone call to Colombia, paper napkins, a 69p children's bowl and a £2,600 kitchen.
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." But he 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. According to the Telegraph, Lib Dem MP Andrew George claimed for furniture and £847 a month for mortgage interest on the £300,000 riverside flat in Rotherhithe, east 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. Mr George denied that she had been living there at the time the expenses were submitted, but had come to stay with him "in recent months".
But he denied what he understood to be the paper's claims that his daughter lived at the property in Rotherhithe. He said: "Frankly - especially as my wife and I own one third of the property - there is nothing wrong with any member of my family coming to share the flat with me and to stay in the spare room for as long as they wish.
"Many MPs confide in me that they have members of their family staying with them. From now on my family will come and stay with me at the flat more not less. We should encourage families to be together."
'No substantial claims''No substantial claims'
The newspaper said Sir Menzies, party leader from 2006 to 2007, had claimed for cushions, a king-sized bed and a flat-screen television. The Telegraph said Sir Menzies, Lib Dem 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 his actions had been "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. There were claims of £1,718 for laundry over four years, and more than £4,700 on parking bills at his flat, the paper added.
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.
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 had 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 pressTrouser press
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.
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.
Other claims made by the Eastleigh MP include 79p for a packet of HobNobs and a £3.20 bus ticket, according to the Telegraph.
Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik claimed £40 for a court summons. He has agreed to repay the money.
Local government spokesman Julia Goldsworthy submitted receipts for a £999 television and a £1,111 sofa bed, the Telegraph adds.
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.