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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| MP to fight expenses cash demand | MP to fight expenses cash demand |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| A Liberal Democrat has become the first MP to state publicly that he will appeal against an official request to repay past expenses claims. | A Liberal Democrat has become the first MP to state publicly that he will appeal against an official request to repay past expenses claims. |
| Jeremy Browne has been told by Sir Thomas Legg, who conducted an audit of expenses, to repay nearly £18,000. | Jeremy Browne has been told by Sir Thomas Legg, who conducted an audit of expenses, to repay nearly £18,000. |
| He has written to Sir Paul Kennedy, who is overseeing appeals, to tell him he intends to contest the decision. | |
| Tory MP Bernard Jenkin will also appeal against a request to repay £63,250 he claimed to rent a home from a relative. | |
| Taunton MP Mr Browne says he is being asked to repay money because he remortgaged a property he owned in London before becoming an MP, in order to pay a deposit to buy a house in his constituency. | Taunton MP Mr Browne says he is being asked to repay money because he remortgaged a property he owned in London before becoming an MP, in order to pay a deposit to buy a house in his constituency. |
| 'Retrospective' | 'Retrospective' |
| Remortgaging was against the rules as set out then, but Mr Browne says in his letter to Sir Paul: "I did not believe that the rule was designed to stop 'first-time' MPs from funding the practical requirement to have two homes." | Remortgaging was against the rules as set out then, but Mr Browne says in his letter to Sir Paul: "I did not believe that the rule was designed to stop 'first-time' MPs from funding the practical requirement to have two homes." |
| He says he took his course of action to minimise costs to the taxpayer. | He says he took his course of action to minimise costs to the taxpayer. |
| The BBC understands Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who told his MPs not to "quibble" with Sir Thomas's requests for repayment, is supportive of Mr Browne - a Lib Dem Treasury spokesman. | |
| North Essex MP Mr Jenkin has been asked to repay the largest amount known so far - £63,250. | |
| He was asked to do so because he rented his second home from his sister-in-law - MPs were banned from renting from family members in 2006. | |
| Appeal process | |
| Mr Jenkin has said he was not informed the rules had changed and the Commons Fees Office had sanctioned the arrangement. | |
| He has said he will appeal to Sir Paul - a former Court of Appeal judge asked by the Commons members estimate committee to consider written appeals from MPs. | |
| But Mr Jenkin has said he will repay the money if the appeals process rules against him. | |
| Downing Street asked Sir Thomas to review all MPs' claims made under the controversial second homes allowance since 2004, after the expenses scandal broke in May. | Downing Street asked Sir Thomas to review all MPs' claims made under the controversial second homes allowance since 2004, after the expenses scandal broke in May. |
| He has looked at whether claims should not have been allowed under the rules at the time, whether mistakes were made and has also angered some MPs by introducing his own limits on claims for cleaning and gardening. | He has looked at whether claims should not have been allowed under the rules at the time, whether mistakes were made and has also angered some MPs by introducing his own limits on claims for cleaning and gardening. |
| A number of MPs, including the prime minister and several cabinet ministers, have been asked to repay the difference between what they claimed, and what he thinks they should have claimed. | A number of MPs, including the prime minister and several cabinet ministers, have been asked to repay the difference between what they claimed, and what he thinks they should have claimed. |
| Many MPs were unhappy about the "retrospective" nature of the ruling and had been expected to appeal. | Many MPs were unhappy about the "retrospective" nature of the ruling and had been expected to appeal. |
| Thursday is the deadline for them tell the Commons authorities whether they intend to take such action. | Thursday is the deadline for them tell the Commons authorities whether they intend to take such action. |