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Expenses mole angry over Army kit | Expenses mole angry over Army kit |
(42 minutes later) | |
The expenses scandal began because the mole who caused the leak was angry about inadequate equipment for the armed forces, the Daily Telegraph said. | The expenses scandal began because the mole who caused the leak was angry about inadequate equipment for the armed forces, the Daily Telegraph said. |
The newspaper says staff who worked in secrecy processing the MPs' receipts were guarded by moonlighting servicemen on leave between tours. | The newspaper says staff who worked in secrecy processing the MPs' receipts were guarded by moonlighting servicemen on leave between tours. |
They became angry when they learned of MPs' lavish claims when soldiers had inadequate equipment, the paper says. | They became angry when they learned of MPs' lavish claims when soldiers had inadequate equipment, the paper says. |
Many servicemen were working so they could buy better kit, the paper adds. | Many servicemen were working so they could buy better kit, the paper adds. |
Tipping point | Tipping point |
The unidentified mole is quoted as saying the soldiers' accounts of their poor equipment prompted him to leak the information. | The unidentified mole is quoted as saying the soldiers' accounts of their poor equipment prompted him to leak the information. |
The paper quotes the mole as saying: "It's not easy to watch footage on the television news of a coffin draped in a Union Jack and then come in to work the next day and see on your computer screen what MPs are taking for themselves." | The paper quotes the mole as saying: "It's not easy to watch footage on the television news of a coffin draped in a Union Jack and then come in to work the next day and see on your computer screen what MPs are taking for themselves." |
The stark contrast between conditions facing soldiers and the MPs' lavish claims "helped tip the balance in the decision over whether I should or should not leak the expenses data," the mole is quoted as saying. | The stark contrast between conditions facing soldiers and the MPs' lavish claims "helped tip the balance in the decision over whether I should or should not leak the expenses data," the mole is quoted as saying. |
That was why I leaked the information: because the British public deserves better MPs' expenses mole | That was why I leaked the information: because the British public deserves better MPs' expenses mole |
"When they're out in Afghanistan they're out there for Queen and country, earning £16,000 or £17,000-a-year, knowing they're going to take losses, while the MPs are sitting in Parliament on £65,000, with massive expenses, and meanwhile you've got bodies coming home." | "When they're out in Afghanistan they're out there for Queen and country, earning £16,000 or £17,000-a-year, knowing they're going to take losses, while the MPs are sitting in Parliament on £65,000, with massive expenses, and meanwhile you've got bodies coming home." |
The mole said everyone working on the MPs' expenses claims were "of the same mind". | The mole said everyone working on the MPs' expenses claims were "of the same mind". |
"This was our money and these were our employees, effectively, but no-one could hold them to account. | "This was our money and these were our employees, effectively, but no-one could hold them to account. |
Mole hunt called off | |
"That was why I leaked the information: because the British public deserves better," the mole is quoted as saying. | "That was why I leaked the information: because the British public deserves better," the mole is quoted as saying. |
The newspaper says that about 20 Her Majesty's Stationery Office and parliamentary staff worked for months in great secrecy in a south London office copying and processing the MPs' receipts. | |
The BBC's political correspondent Ben Wright said although there was originally a hunt to find the mole when the scandal broke, it was unsuccessful and has since been called off. | |
Our correspondent said: "Parliament has moved a very long way since then. It has claimed so many careers, it has prompted a massive overhaul of the parliamentary expenses system." | |
The claims are made in a book being published by the Daily Telegraph on Friday about the expenses scandal called No Expenses Spared. | The claims are made in a book being published by the Daily Telegraph on Friday about the expenses scandal called No Expenses Spared. |