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MP refers himself to sleaze body MP refers himself to sleaze body
(10 minutes later)
Labour MP Elliot Morley has referred his own expenses claims to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner following allegations he over-claimed.Labour MP Elliot Morley has referred his own expenses claims to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner following allegations he over-claimed.
Mr Morley's political future is in the balance after he admitted claiming £16,000 for a mortgage he had paid off.Mr Morley's political future is in the balance after he admitted claiming £16,000 for a mortgage he had paid off.
He said it was a "mistake" and he had paid the money back but Prime Minister Gordon Brown is holding talks with Labour's chief whip on his future.He said it was a "mistake" and he had paid the money back but Prime Minister Gordon Brown is holding talks with Labour's chief whip on his future.
Mr Brown is said to be "very concerned" about the allegations.Mr Brown is said to be "very concerned" about the allegations.
Mr Morley was one of a number of Labour MPs hauled in to explain themselves to Labour Chief Whip Nick Brown after the Daily Telegraph's latest revelations about parliamentary expenses.Mr Morley was one of a number of Labour MPs hauled in to explain themselves to Labour Chief Whip Nick Brown after the Daily Telegraph's latest revelations about parliamentary expenses.
'No intent''No intent'
The ex-minister said: "I have today asked John Lyon, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, to look into my case to demonstrate that there was no intent (to overclaim).The ex-minister said: "I have today asked John Lyon, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, to look into my case to demonstrate that there was no intent (to overclaim).
"I have repaid in full the money involved, which came to over £16,000.""I have repaid in full the money involved, which came to over £16,000."
Mr Morley said he would be meeting his constituency party in Scunthorpe within the next couple of weeks to discuss whether he can stand as Labour's candidate in the next general election.Mr Morley said he would be meeting his constituency party in Scunthorpe within the next couple of weeks to discuss whether he can stand as Labour's candidate in the next general election.
He said: "Obviously, I will make a judgement on the current situation, but what matters is my local party. It is in their hands."He said: "Obviously, I will make a judgement on the current situation, but what matters is my local party. It is in their hands."
I deeply apologize for such sloppy accounting in a very loose and shambolic allowance system but there is nobody to blame but myself and I take full responsibility for this Elliot Morley, Labour MP Health minister to repay £41,709 Tory MP quits post over expensesI deeply apologize for such sloppy accounting in a very loose and shambolic allowance system but there is nobody to blame but myself and I take full responsibility for this Elliot Morley, Labour MP Health minister to repay £41,709 Tory MP quits post over expenses
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.
He 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.He 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.
In a statement, Mr Morley said he did his accounts in "yearly bundles" and he had "simply let the established payment run as it has for some years", adding that he "did not take sufficient notice of my accounting".In a statement, Mr Morley said he did his accounts in "yearly bundles" and he had "simply let the established payment run as it has for some years", adding that he "did not take sufficient notice of my accounting".
"I accept that I have made a mistake in this case and have rectified it in full. I deeply apologise for such sloppy accounting in a very loose and shambolic allowance system but there is nobody to blame but myself and I take full responsibility for this," he added."I accept that I have made a mistake in this case and have rectified it in full. I deeply apologise for such sloppy accounting in a very loose and shambolic allowance system but there is nobody to blame but myself and I take full responsibility for this," he added.
'Flipping' claim'Flipping' claim
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.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.
Mr Cawsey named the property as his second home, allowing him to claim £1,000 a month in rent, which he paid to Mr Morley.Mr Cawsey named the property as his second home, allowing him to claim £1,000 a month in rent, which he paid 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.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.
I'm confident that I behaved honestly, I laid all this out in a thorough and honest way John Maples class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm">Key details: MP expenses claims class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8048215.stm">Which MPs didn't claim expenses? People in Elliot Morley's constituency react to his expenses revelations
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.
But Mr Morley issued a lengthy explanation of his arrangement with Mr Cawsey in which he denied any wrongdoing and said he used the money from his Labour colleague to reduce his claim to the taxpayer.But Mr Morley issued a lengthy explanation of his arrangement with Mr Cawsey in which he denied any wrongdoing and said he used the money from his Labour colleague to reduce his claim to the taxpayer.
He said: "Since 1997 I have only charged Mr Cawsey a notional rent which has also been declared to the finance department and deducted from my additional costs allowance [second homes allowance]."He said: "Since 1997 I have only charged Mr Cawsey a notional rent which has also been declared to the finance department and deducted from my additional costs allowance [second homes allowance]."
Review panelReview panel
Pressure group The Taxpayers' Alliance has said it has made a complaint to the Metropolitan Police about Mr Morley and told the BBC it was considering mounting a private prosecution for fraud.Pressure group The Taxpayers' Alliance has said it has made a complaint to the Metropolitan Police about Mr Morley and told the BBC it was considering mounting a private prosecution for fraud.
It comes as Tory MP Andrew 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.It comes as Tory MP Andrew 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.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.
I'm confident that I behaved honestly, I laid all this out in a thorough and honest way John Maples Key details: MP expenses claims Which MPs didn't claim expenses?
Mr MacKay will now appear before the internal review panel being set up by Mr Cameron to review "excessive" claims.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' 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.
'Behaved honestly'
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'
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 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".
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.