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Blears: PM lacked expenses facts Blears: PM lacked expenses facts
(1 day later)
Hazel Blears has said Prime Minister Gordon Brown was not in possession of the full facts when he labelled her expenses "unacceptable".Hazel Blears has said Prime Minister Gordon Brown was not in possession of the full facts when he labelled her expenses "unacceptable".
The former communities secretary said the Commons' fees office had forced her to change her principal residence from Salford to London.The former communities secretary said the Commons' fees office had forced her to change her principal residence from Salford to London.
Ms Blears' remarks came as she fended off a local Labour deselection motion.Ms Blears' remarks came as she fended off a local Labour deselection motion.
A transcript of her comments at the June Labour meeting were obtained by the BBC's Panorama programme. A transcript of her comments at the June Labour meeting was obtained by the BBC's Panorama programme.
HAZEL BLEARS' EXPENSES ROW Elected Salford MP in 1997Resigned as communities secretary over the MPs' expenses scandal in May 2009Claimed for three different properties in a single yearSpent £5,000 of taxpayers' money on furniture in three monthsRepaid £13,000 in unpaid capital gains tax MPs' expenses: Hazel BlearsHAZEL BLEARS' EXPENSES ROW Elected Salford MP in 1997Resigned as communities secretary over the MPs' expenses scandal in May 2009Claimed for three different properties in a single yearSpent £5,000 of taxpayers' money on furniture in three monthsRepaid £13,000 in unpaid capital gains tax MPs' expenses: Hazel Blears
In defending her expenses claims at the deselection meeting, Ms Blears said of Mr Brown: "He didn't have the full facts before him. I genuinely think he didn't mean to say it and issued an immediate statement of full support for me but the damage was done by then."In defending her expenses claims at the deselection meeting, Ms Blears said of Mr Brown: "He didn't have the full facts before him. I genuinely think he didn't mean to say it and issued an immediate statement of full support for me but the damage was done by then."
She said her position with the cabinet had become "untenable" following the prime minister's criticism.She said her position with the cabinet had become "untenable" following the prime minister's criticism.
Ms Blears has consistently denied any wrongdoing. She appeared on national television and produced a cheque for £13,332.Ms Blears has consistently denied any wrongdoing. She appeared on national television and produced a cheque for £13,332.
That money represented the capital gains taxes that would have been payable on the sale of two London flats, registered in turn as her second home for the purposes of parliamentary allowances, but as her principal residence for taxation purposes.That money represented the capital gains taxes that would have been payable on the sale of two London flats, registered in turn as her second home for the purposes of parliamentary allowances, but as her principal residence for taxation purposes.
'National hysteria''National hysteria'
Ms Blears became one of the most high-profile MPs to be criticised in the wake of the Daily Telegraph newspaper's leaked coverage of MPs' expenses.Ms Blears became one of the most high-profile MPs to be criticised in the wake of the Daily Telegraph newspaper's leaked coverage of MPs' expenses.
In that few weeks period when there was this national hysteria going on the prospect of getting a fair hearing was nil Hazel BlearsIn that few weeks period when there was this national hysteria going on the prospect of getting a fair hearing was nil Hazel Blears
She told fellow Labour party members that she was caught up in what she termed a "national hysteria" over MPs' expenses and had no realistic hope of defending herself.She told fellow Labour party members that she was caught up in what she termed a "national hysteria" over MPs' expenses and had no realistic hope of defending herself.
"The only time my properties were changed was when I was forced to do it by the fees office because they said to me if you become a minister the rule is that ministers have to live in London," she said."The only time my properties were changed was when I was forced to do it by the fees office because they said to me if you become a minister the rule is that ministers have to live in London," she said.
In 2004, she changed the designation of the main residence for expenses purposes three times within a matter of months.In 2004, she changed the designation of the main residence for expenses purposes three times within a matter of months.
During that time, she avoided paying capital gains tax on a south London flat that she sold for a £45,000 profit by designating it her primary residence for tax purposes.During that time, she avoided paying capital gains tax on a south London flat that she sold for a £45,000 profit by designating it her primary residence for tax purposes.
Prior to buying the south London flat, Ms Blears sold her previous London flat with a £35,000 profit.Prior to buying the south London flat, Ms Blears sold her previous London flat with a £35,000 profit.
Ms Blears did not break the rules of either the Commons or the Inland Revenue in any of her transactions.Ms Blears did not break the rules of either the Commons or the Inland Revenue in any of her transactions.
Reputation damagedReputation damaged
Ms Blears successfully defended herself to her local Labour committee and avoided de-selection.Ms Blears successfully defended herself to her local Labour committee and avoided de-selection.
She told the meeting she felt besmirched by the allegations against her and contemplated taking legal action.She told the meeting she felt besmirched by the allegations against her and contemplated taking legal action.
"In that few weeks period when there was this national hysteria going on the prospect of getting a fair hearing was nil."In that few weeks period when there was this national hysteria going on the prospect of getting a fair hearing was nil.
"I will now need to think very carefully about whether or not I wish to bring proceedings on that basis because...my reputation has been damaged and damaged by the constant repetition of things that are untrue.""I will now need to think very carefully about whether or not I wish to bring proceedings on that basis because...my reputation has been damaged and damaged by the constant repetition of things that are untrue."
Ms Blears told the meeting that in hindsight, she regretted wearing a 'rock the boat' brooch on the day of her resignation, and also regretted timing her departure for the day before local and European elections.Ms Blears told the meeting that in hindsight, she regretted wearing a 'rock the boat' brooch on the day of her resignation, and also regretted timing her departure for the day before local and European elections.
Both were widely interpreted as an attack on Mr Brown.Both were widely interpreted as an attack on Mr Brown.
"I bitterly regret that," she said of the timing."I bitterly regret that," she said of the timing.
Ms Blears told the meeting that the system of MPs' expenses had changed from the intended purpose.Ms Blears told the meeting that the system of MPs' expenses had changed from the intended purpose.
"There was something that went wrong in that it became a culture of entitlement rather than a culture of `I've spent this, can I have it back?'""There was something that went wrong in that it became a culture of entitlement rather than a culture of `I've spent this, can I have it back?'"
Panorama: Can you forgive your MP?, BBC One, Monday, 7 December at 2030 GMT.Panorama: Can you forgive your MP?, BBC One, Monday, 7 December at 2030 GMT.