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MP admits mortgage expense error MP admits mortgage expense error
(about 1 hour later)
A former minister has admitted he claimed £16,000 on expenses for a mortgage that had been paid off.A former minister has admitted he claimed £16,000 on expenses for a mortgage that had been paid off.
Labour MP Elliot Morley told the BBC he had repaid some back and it had been a mistake which he felt terrible about.Labour MP Elliot Morley told the BBC he had repaid some back and it had been a mistake which he felt terrible about.
The Daily Telegraph reported he claimed £800 a month for a Scunthorpe property for 18 months after the mortgage ended.The Daily Telegraph reported he claimed £800 a month for a Scunthorpe property for 18 months after the mortgage ended.
More than 20 MPs have said they will pay back claims totalling nearly £130,000, amid public anger after days of revelations from leaked receipts.More than 20 MPs have said they will pay back claims totalling nearly £130,000, amid public anger after days of revelations from leaked receipts.
Parliamentary Labour Party chairman Tony Lloyd has written to all the party's MPs, urging them to publish their expenses themselves instead of waiting for House of Commons authorities to release them.Parliamentary Labour Party chairman Tony Lloyd has written to all the party's MPs, urging them to publish their expenses themselves instead of waiting for House of Commons authorities to release them.
'Tighter reign''Tighter reign'
Mr Morley, the MP for Scunthorpe, told the BBC he repaid money two weeks ago upon realising he had mistakenly continued claiming for his mortgage payments after it was repaid in 2006.Mr Morley, the MP for Scunthorpe, told the BBC he repaid money two weeks ago upon realising he had mistakenly continued claiming for his mortgage payments after it was repaid in 2006.
He 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 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.
It is important that we publish these expenses ourselves, as a first step to meeting our constituents' anger on these issues Tony Lloyd MP Health minister to repay £41,709It is important that we publish these expenses ourselves, as a first step to meeting our constituents' anger on these issues Tony Lloyd MP Health minister to repay £41,709
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.
And 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.And 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".
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.
Constituents' angerConstituents' anger
But in a letter to Labour MPs, Mr Lloyd wrote: "I do not think it wise to wait longer than necessary for something that is certainly going to be published soon, and is already in the hands of a national newspaper.But in a letter to Labour MPs, Mr Lloyd wrote: "I do not think it wise to wait longer than necessary for something that is certainly going to be published soon, and is already in the hands of a national newspaper.
"In my view it is important that we publish these expenses ourselves, as a first step to meeting our constituents' anger on these issues.""In my view it is important that we publish these expenses ourselves, as a first step to meeting our constituents' anger on these issues."
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has already said she would pay £13,332 in respect of capital gains tax on the sale of her second home.Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has already said she would pay £13,332 in respect of capital gains tax on the sale of her second home.
Labour MP for Luton, Margaret Moran, is to pay back £22,500 she spent on treating dry rot at a property in Southampton.Labour MP for Luton, Margaret Moran, is to pay back £22,500 she spent on treating dry rot at a property in Southampton.
And several Conservative MPs have agreed to pay back thousands of pounds for claims including home improvements, furniture and work on a tennis court, after party leader David Cameron threatened them with the sack.And several Conservative MPs have agreed to pay back thousands of pounds for claims including home improvements, furniture and work on a tennis court, after party leader David Cameron threatened them with the sack.
Commons clashesCommons clashes
On Wednesday, Mr Cameron clashed with Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the Commons over the need for reform.On Wednesday, Mr Cameron clashed with Prime Minister 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 Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs agreeing to back him.Conservative Douglas Carswell is to table a motion of no-confidence in Mr Martin, with several Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs agreeing to back him.