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Tory MP quits post over expenses Tory MP quits post over expenses
(about 2 hours later)
Conservative MP Andrew MacKay has quit as parliamentary aide to David Cameron over what the party said was an "unacceptable" expenses claim.Conservative MP Andrew MacKay has quit as parliamentary aide to David Cameron over what the party said was an "unacceptable" expenses claim.
He claimed full second home allowance on his London address, while his wife, Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, claimed the full allowance for another home.He claimed full second home allowance on his London address, while his wife, Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, claimed the full allowance for another home.
Mr Cameron has said all Tory MPs must be able to defend their expenses.Mr Cameron has said all Tory MPs must be able to defend their expenses.
In a separate development Gordon Brown announced that ex-minister Elliot Morley has been suspended from Labour.In a separate development Gordon Brown announced that ex-minister Elliot Morley has been suspended from Labour.
'Unacceptable''Unacceptable'
The Conservatives said Mr MacKay had voluntarily submitted his expense claims to party officials and these had revealed "an unacceptable situation that would not stand up to reasonable public scrutiny".The Conservatives said Mr MacKay had voluntarily submitted his expense claims to party officials and these had revealed "an unacceptable situation that would not stand up to reasonable public scrutiny".
Mr Cameron told BBC News: "It is not enough just to say the system is to blame. Consequences have to follow."Mr Cameron told BBC News: "It is not enough just to say the system is to blame. Consequences have to follow."
Mr MacKay and his wife claimed second homes allowances on two separate properties, with Mr MacKay saying they had done so "for eight or nine years".Mr MacKay and his wife claimed second homes allowances on two separate properties, with Mr MacKay saying they had done so "for eight or nine years".
Elliot Morley was said to be "heartbroken"Elliot Morley was said to be "heartbroken"
"Although Mr MacKay maintains that those arrangements were agreed by the fees office, he resigned this morning with immediate effect," said a party spokesman."Although Mr MacKay maintains that those arrangements were agreed by the fees office, he resigned this morning with immediate effect," said a party spokesman.
He said he had followed the advice of the Commons fees office but he now realised the arrangement did not pass Mr Cameron's "reasonableness" test and he felt it was "wrong" to remain in his position.He said he had followed the advice of the Commons fees office but he now realised the arrangement did not pass Mr Cameron's "reasonableness" test and he felt it was "wrong" to remain in his position.
He told the BBC: "Due to an error of judgement in accepting advice from the fees office I have let a lot of people down.He told the BBC: "Due to an error of judgement in accepting advice from the fees office I have let a lot of people down.
"I passionately believe in Parliament, in our democracy, and I think it is very important that members of Parliament are held in high regard.""I passionately believe in Parliament, in our democracy, and I think it is very important that members of Parliament are held in high regard."
'Error of judgement''Error of judgement'
He said it was up to his constituents in Bracknell whether he should continue to be their MP.He said it was up to his constituents in Bracknell whether he should continue to be their MP.
"I will also be holding a public meeting so that any one of my constituents who wants to come and talk to me and cross-examine me can do so next week," he said."I will also be holding a public meeting so that any one of my constituents who wants to come and talk to me and cross-examine me can do so next week," he said.
He said he had apologised to Mr Cameron for "causing any hurt or difficulties" and had offered to repay the money, depending on what the Conservatives' new scrutiny panel, announced by Mr Cameron on Tuesday, decided.He said he had apologised to Mr Cameron for "causing any hurt or difficulties" and had offered to repay the money, depending on what the Conservatives' new scrutiny panel, announced by Mr Cameron on Tuesday, decided.
I deeply apologize for such sloppy accounting in a very loose and shambolic allowance system Elliot Morley MP refers himself to sleaze bodyI deeply apologize for such sloppy accounting in a very loose and shambolic allowance system Elliot Morley MP refers himself to sleaze body
Asked if his expenses claim felt wrong at the time, he said: "Looking back now, it does look strange. I have clearly made an error of judgement for which I profusely apologise."Asked if his expenses claim felt wrong at the time, he said: "Looking back now, it does look strange. I have clearly made an error of judgement for which I profusely apologise."
Senior Tories say they do not expect to take any action against his wife, Julie Kirkbride, with sources suggesting "for the time being she is in the clear". Senior Tories say they do not expect to take any action against his wife, Julie Kirkbride, who is the Conservative MP for Bromsgrove, with sources suggesting "for the time being she is in the clear".
Meanwhile, Labour MP Elliot Morley was suspended from the Labour Party after the Daily Telegraph revealed he claimed £16,000 in mortgage interest payments over 18 months after the mortgage was paid off.Meanwhile, Labour MP Elliot Morley was suspended from the Labour Party after the Daily Telegraph revealed he claimed £16,000 in mortgage interest payments over 18 months after the mortgage was paid off.
Mr Morley has paid the money back and referred his own claims to Parliament's standards commissioner.Mr Morley has paid the money back and referred his own claims to Parliament's standards commissioner.
Mr Morley said it had been a mistake and he had "no intent" to over claim but apologised for "sloppy accounting".Mr Morley said it had been a mistake and he had "no intent" to over claim but apologised for "sloppy accounting".
HAVE YOUR SAYTo simply hand this stolen money back and expect that to be the end of the matter is totally unacceptable.James, Oldham Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYTo simply hand this stolen money back and expect that to be the end of the matter is totally unacceptable.James, Oldham Send us your comments
The Daily Telegraph also alleges 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.The Daily Telegraph also alleges 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, it is claimed, named the property as his second home, allowing him to claim back the £1,000 a month in rent he paid to Mr Morley.Mr Cawsey, it is claimed, named the property as his second home, allowing him to claim back the £1,000 a month in rent 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.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.
The Commons fees office stopped the arrangement.The Commons fees office stopped the arrangement.
Mr Morley has 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.Mr Morley has 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."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."
Mr Cawsey said he had not been aware of Mr Morley's financial arrangements.Mr Cawsey said he had not been aware of Mr Morley's financial arrangements.
Meanwhile pressure continues to mount on Commons Speaker Michael Martin - one Tory MP says he has cross-party support for a motion of no confidence in him, over his handling of the expenses furore.Meanwhile pressure continues to mount on Commons Speaker Michael Martin - one Tory MP says he has cross-party support for a motion of no confidence in him, over his handling of the expenses furore.
In a straw poll of 173 MPs contacted by BBC Two's Newsnight, 48 said they had lost confidence in Mr Martin and 68 declined to answer.In a straw poll of 173 MPs contacted by BBC Two's Newsnight, 48 said they had lost confidence in Mr Martin and 68 declined to answer.
Tory MP Richard Shepherd, who challenged Mr Martin for the job of Speaker nine years ago, accused Mr Martin of seeking to block information about MPs' expenses from coming out.Tory MP Richard Shepherd, who challenged Mr Martin for the job of Speaker nine years ago, accused Mr Martin of seeking to block information about MPs' expenses from coming out.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "He has brought Parliament into contempt and ridicule."He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "He has brought Parliament into contempt and ridicule."