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Mortgage claim MP under pressure Mortgage claim MP under pressure
(10 minutes later)
Gordon Brown is holding talks with Labour's chief whip over allegations ex minister Elliot Morley claimed £160,000 expenses on a loan he had already paid. Gordon Brown is holding talks with Labour's chief whip over allegations ex minister Elliot Morley claimed £16,000 expenses on a loan he had already paid.
Mr Morley has said it was a "mistake" and has paid the money back - but his future as a Labour MP may be in doubt.Mr Morley has said it was a "mistake" and has paid the money back - but his future as a Labour MP may be in doubt.
It comes as Tory MP Andrew Mackay quit as a Parliamentary aide over "unacceptable" expenses claims. It comes as Tory MP Andrew MacKay quit as leader David Cameron's aide over "unacceptable" expenses claims.
The MP voluntarily submitted his claims to Conservative officials and he will not be expelled from the party.The MP voluntarily submitted his claims to Conservative officials and he will not be expelled from the party.
But Mr Morley's future may be less certain after Gordon Brown said he was "very concerned" about allegations in the Daily Telegraph.But Mr Morley's future may be less certain after Gordon Brown said he was "very concerned" about allegations in the Daily Telegraph.
'Tighter rein''Tighter rein'
Mr Morley claimed £800 a month for a Scunthorpe property for 18 months after the mortgage ended, according to The Daily Telegraph.Mr Morley claimed £800 a month for a Scunthorpe property for 18 months after the mortgage ended, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Mr Morley, the MP for Scunthorpe, told the BBC he repaid the money two weeks ago upon realising he had mistakenly continued claiming for his mortgage payments after it was repaid in 2006. Mr Morley, the Labour MP for Scunthorpe, told the BBC he repaid the money two weeks ago upon realising he had mistakenly continued claiming for his mortgage payments after it was repaid in 2006.
There is certainly a case for investigation for fraud Lawyer Steven Barker on MPs' expenses Health minister to repay £41,709 There is certainly a case for investigation for fraud Lawyer Steven Barker on MPs' expenses Health minister to repay £41,709 class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8049614.stm">Tory MP quits post over expenses
The former environment minister said the mistake was entirely his fault, that he "should have kept a tighter rein" and that he felt terrible about the situation.The former environment minister said the mistake was entirely his fault, that he "should have kept a tighter rein" and that he felt terrible about the situation.
Mr Morley was said by sources to have been "distraught and heartbroken".Mr Morley was said by sources to have been "distraught and heartbroken".
In further allegations, The Telegraph reports that Mr Morley rented out a London flat designated as his main residence to another Labour MP, Ian Cawsey, a close friend and former special adviser, who named the property as his second home, allowing him to claim £1,000 a month in rent, which he paid to Mr Morley.In further allegations, The Telegraph reports that Mr Morley rented out a London flat designated as his main residence to another Labour MP, Ian Cawsey, a close friend and former special adviser, who named the property as his second home, allowing him to claim £1,000 a month in rent, which he paid to Mr Morley.
Further allegationsFurther allegations
In November 2007, the newspaper claims, Mr Morley "flipped" his designated second home from his Scunthorpe property to his London home and for four months the two men claimed expenses on the same property - Mr Morley claimed the mortgage interest and Mr Cawley claimed the rent he was paying to Mr Morley.In November 2007, the newspaper claims, Mr Morley "flipped" his designated second home from his Scunthorpe property to his London home and for four months the two men claimed expenses on the same property - Mr Morley claimed the mortgage interest and Mr Cawley claimed the rent he was paying to Mr Morley.
The Commons fees office became aware of the situation in March 2008, the newspaper says, and it was stopped but Mr Morley was not investigated or disciplined.The Commons fees office became aware of the situation in March 2008, the newspaper says, and it was stopped but Mr Morley was not investigated or disciplined.
Mr Cawsey told the Daily Telegraph he had been unaware of Mr Morley's financial arrangements.Mr Cawsey told the Daily Telegraph he had been unaware of Mr Morley's financial arrangements.
Review panel
Bracknell MP Mr MacKay, who is married to Bromsgrove Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, decided to quit his post as a Parliamentary aide after it emerged he claimed the full second-home allowance for interest on their joint mortgage for a London home until April this year.
At the same time his wife also claimed the full annual sum for mortgage interest on a constituency home - meaning they appeared to have two second homes but no main home, sources said.
Mr MacKay will now appear before the internal review panel being set up by Mr Cameron to review "excessive" claims.
In other allegations in Thursday's Telegraph, another Labour MP, Fabian Hamilton, is reported to have declared his mother's London home as his main residence, while claiming allowances for his designated "second home" in his constituency, where his family lived.In other allegations in Thursday's Telegraph, another Labour MP, Fabian Hamilton, is reported to have declared his mother's London home as his main residence, while claiming allowances for his designated "second home" in his constituency, where his family lived.
The Leeds North East MP told the newspaper he spent the majority of his time in the house owned by his mother until her death in 2005.The Leeds North East MP told the newspaper he spent the majority of his time in the house owned by his mother until her death in 2005.
Private members' clubPrivate members' club
And a Tory MP, Stephen Crabb, is reported to have designated his family house in Wales as his second home while renting a flat in London, claiming £3.900 in stamp duty.And a Tory MP, Stephen Crabb, is reported to have designated his family house in Wales as his second home while renting a flat in London, claiming £3.900 in stamp duty.
The Telegraph also claimed Mr Crabb had "flipped" his second home to his family residence in Wales from another London flat that was sold for a profit after more than £8,000 in taxpayer-funded refurbishments.The Telegraph also claimed Mr Crabb had "flipped" his second home to his family residence in Wales from another London flat that was sold for a profit after more than £8,000 in taxpayer-funded refurbishments.
The Preseli Pembrokeshire MP denied acting for financial reasons and said every decision he had made as an MP had been "made with the explicit guidance of the fees office".The Preseli Pembrokeshire MP denied acting for financial reasons and said every decision he had made as an MP had been "made with the explicit guidance of the fees office".
Tory MP John Maples is accused of effectively claiming that a private members' club in Pall Mall was his "main home" while he claimed expenses on his constituency home.Tory MP John Maples is accused of effectively claiming that a private members' club in Pall Mall was his "main home" while he claimed expenses on his constituency home.
The deputy chairman of the Conservative Party told BBC 2's Newsnight the claim had been "misrepresented". He said he had sold one home but had to wait several months before he could move into the new one he had bought.The deputy chairman of the Conservative Party told BBC 2's Newsnight the claim had been "misrepresented". He said he had sold one home but had to wait several months before he could move into the new one he had bought.
'Behaved honestly''Behaved honestly'
During that period the MP for Stratford-on-Avon said he lived for one month in the club and for the rest of the time in a flat and had sought advice from Commons officials who agreed that he could carry on claiming the allowance.During that period the MP for Stratford-on-Avon said he lived for one month in the club and for the rest of the time in a flat and had sought advice from Commons officials who agreed that he could carry on claiming the allowance.
"I'm confident that I behaved honestly, I laid all this out in a thorough and honest way," he said."I'm confident that I behaved honestly, I laid all this out in a thorough and honest way," he said.
On Wednesday health minister Phil Hope said he would repay £41,709 he had claimed over four years to refurbish a two-bedroom flat.On Wednesday health minister Phil Hope said he would repay £41,709 he had claimed over four years to refurbish a two-bedroom flat.
He said his constituents' anger and damage done to his reputation had been "a massive blow to me that I cannot allow to continue".He said his constituents' anger and damage done to his reputation had been "a massive blow to me that I cannot allow to continue".
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has apologised for his expenses claim - but said he will not following Mr Hope's lead by paying the cash back.Foreign Secretary David Miliband has apologised for his expenses claim - but said he will not following Mr Hope's lead by paying the cash back.
The Labour MP South Shields MP said it was "right to say sorry" and backed Gordon Brown's calls for a new system that would be seen as "wholly fair".The Labour MP South Shields MP said it was "right to say sorry" and backed Gordon Brown's calls for a new system that would be seen as "wholly fair".
Miliband apologyMiliband apology
It was revealed last week that Mr Miliband spent just under £30,000 over five years on repairs, decorations and furnishings for the £120,000 semi-detached property in South Shields.It was revealed last week that Mr Miliband spent just under £30,000 over five years on repairs, decorations and furnishings for the £120,000 semi-detached property in South Shields.
But a spokesman for South Shields MP said he had "followed the procedures and rules as laid out by Parliamentary procedures".But a spokesman for South Shields MP said he had "followed the procedures and rules as laid out by Parliamentary procedures".
Mr Miliband said the expenses scandal has "created cynicism abut the whole purpose of politics".Mr Miliband said the expenses scandal has "created cynicism abut the whole purpose of politics".
Details of expenses claims were leaked to the Daily Telegraph ahead of their scheduled publication due in mid-July.Details of expenses claims were leaked to the Daily Telegraph ahead of their scheduled publication due in mid-July.
The Commons had been ordered to publish all receipts for all 646 MPs going back four years, after losing a Freedom of Information case at the High Court.The Commons had been ordered to publish all receipts for all 646 MPs going back four years, after losing a Freedom of Information case at the High Court.
The House of Commons Commission has said it will try to bring forward the scheduled publication date.The House of Commons Commission has said it will try to bring forward the scheduled publication date.
Speaker pressureSpeaker pressure
But chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Tony Lloyd, is urging Labour MPs to seize the initiative and publish their own expenses as a "first step" to addressing constituents' anger - something he said he was planning to do on Monday.But chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Tony Lloyd, is urging Labour MPs to seize the initiative and publish their own expenses as a "first step" to addressing constituents' anger - something he said he was planning to do on Monday.
On Wednesday, David Cameron clashed with Gordon Brown in the Commons over the need for reform.On Wednesday, David Cameron clashed with Gordon Brown in the Commons over the need for reform.
Mr Brown has said all MPs' receipts for expenses claimed over four years must be independently scrutinised.Mr Brown has said all MPs' receipts for expenses claimed over four years must be independently scrutinised.
But Mr Cameron said simply looking at whether past rules were obeyed would not restore trust.But Mr Cameron said simply looking at whether past rules were obeyed would not restore trust.
Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount on Commons Speaker Michael Martin over his handling of the furore.Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount on Commons Speaker Michael Martin over his handling of the furore.
Conservative Douglas Carswell is to table a motion of no-confidence in Mr Martin, with several MPs agreeing to back him.Conservative Douglas Carswell is to table a motion of no-confidence in Mr Martin, with several MPs agreeing to back him.