This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8049614.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Tory MP quits post over expenses Tory MP quits post over expenses
(40 minutes 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.
Mr Cameron has said all Tory MPs must be able to defend their allowance claims after a series of damaging allegations about MPs' claims. He claimed full second home allowance on his London address, while his wife, Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, claimed the full allowance for another home.
Several senior Tory figures, including Michael Gove and Alan Duncan, have agreed to repay money they claimed. Mr Cameron has said all Tory MPs must be able to defend their expenses.
Mr MacKay, MP for Bracknell, is married to fellow Tory MP Julie Kirkbride. It comes as Gordon Brown considers the future of Labour's Elliot Morley, who claimed for a loan he had paid off.
'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 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".
"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.
Elliot Morley was said to be "heartbroken"Elliot Morley was said to be "heartbroken"
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."
He said his error of judgement had damaged Parliament's reputation but it was up to his constituents in Bracknell whether he should continue to be their MP.He said his error of judgement had damaged Parliament's reputation but it was up to his constituents in Bracknell whether he should continue to be their MP.
He added: "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 added: "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 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.
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 Julie Kirkbride with sources suggesting "for the time being she is in the clear".
The BBC's political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said Mr MacKay was paying a heavy price for the public backlash against MPs' behaviour over their expenses and the strong action party leaders were now taking over the issue.The BBC's political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said Mr MacKay was paying a heavy price for the public backlash against MPs' behaviour over their expenses and the strong action party leaders were now taking over the issue.
Mortgage 'mistake'Mortgage 'mistake'
Former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit said Mr MacKay was a "good guy" but said he had done the "right thing" in stepping down given the nature of the situation.
"It ain't right," he said of the claims details. "I am glad he has recognised it is so."
It comes as Westminster faced the seventh day of revelations about MPs' expenses in the Daily Telegraph.It comes as Westminster faced the seventh day of revelations about MPs' expenses in the Daily Telegraph.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is said to be "very concerned" about former minister Elliott Morley claiming £16,000 for a mortgage he had already paid off.Prime Minister Gordon Brown is said to be "very concerned" about former minister Elliott Morley claiming £16,000 for a mortgage he had already paid off.
Mr Morley has said it was a "mistake" and has paid the money back but Mr Brown has held talks with Labour's chief whip about his future. A spokesman for Mr Brown said he was seeking "more facts" from Mr Morley himself and will hold further talks with the chief whip later. Mr Morley has said it was a "mistake" and has paid the money back but Mr Brown has held talks with Labour's chief whip about his future.
The newspaper 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, who named the property as his second home, allowing him to claim back the £1,000 a month in rent he paid to Mr Morley. A spokesman for Mr Brown said he was seeking "more facts" from Mr Morley himself and will hold further talks with the chief whip later.
The newspaper 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.
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. Mr Cawsey said he had not been aware of Mr Morley's financial arrangements. The Commons fees office stopped the arrangement.
Mr Cawsey said he had not been aware of Mr Morley's financial arrangements.