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MPs to fight expenses repayment MPs to fight expenses repayment
(about 4 hours later)
Three MPs have announced they will challenge an auditor's request that they repay money they claimed on expenses dating back five years. Three MPs have become the first to challenge an auditor's request that they repay money they claimed on expenses dating back five years.
Lib Dem Jeremy Browne, Tory Bernard Jenkin and Labour's Frank Cook are the first MPs to announce they will challenge Sir Thomas Legg's findings. Liberal Democrat Jeremy Browne, Labour's Frank Cook and Conservative Bernard Jenkin are appealing against Sir Thomas Legg's findings.
Sir Thomas was asked to review all MPs' second home claims since 2004 after the expenses scandal broke in May.Sir Thomas was asked to review all MPs' second home claims since 2004 after the expenses scandal broke in May.
MPs who disagree with his findings have the right to submit written appeals. MPs have until the end of the day to signal their intention to appeal.
They must signal their intention to appeal by Thursday and submit their written appeals by 23 December - which will then be examined by former Court of Appeal judge Sir Paul Kennedy. They must then submit their written appeals by 23 December - which will be examined by former Court of Appeal judge Sir Paul Kennedy.
Fridge claimsFridge claims
Sir Thomas's review has annoyed many MPs who have been asked to repay money for a variety of reasons.Sir Thomas's review has annoyed many MPs who have been asked to repay money for a variety of reasons.
Mr Jenkin, MP for Essex North, has been asked to repay the highest amount known - £63,250 - because he claimed it for rent on a property owned by his sister-in-law.Mr Jenkin, MP for Essex North, has been asked to repay the highest amount known - £63,250 - because he claimed it for rent on a property owned by his sister-in-law.
The rules changed in 2006 to prevent MPs renting from relatives but Mr Jenkin has said he was not informed and says the Commons Fees Office had sanctioned the arrangement.The rules changed in 2006 to prevent MPs renting from relatives but Mr Jenkin has said he was not informed and says the Commons Fees Office had sanctioned the arrangement.
He has said he will repay the money if the appeals process goes against him.He has said he will repay the money if the appeals process goes against him.
Bernard Jenkin and Frank Cook say they will fight demands for repaymentBernard Jenkin and Frank Cook say they will fight demands for repayment
Stockton North MP Mr Cook's request for repayment relates to £600 claims for a fridge.Stockton North MP Mr Cook's request for repayment relates to £600 claims for a fridge.
He says other requests from Sir Thomas that he repay £964 for utility bills have been dropped and he has already repaid £1,019 he over-claimed for council tax.He says other requests from Sir Thomas that he repay £964 for utility bills have been dropped and he has already repaid £1,019 he over-claimed for council tax.
Mr Browne's case is more complicated. He told the BBC that he was being asked to repay £17,894 because of a "ridiculous application of the rules".Mr Browne's case is more complicated. He told the BBC that he was being asked to repay £17,894 because of a "ridiculous application of the rules".
The Lib Dem Treasury spokesman became MP for Taunton in 2005 and raised the deposit to buy a home in the constituency by remortgaging a London flat he had owned for several years.The Lib Dem Treasury spokesman became MP for Taunton in 2005 and raised the deposit to buy a home in the constituency by remortgaging a London flat he had owned for several years.
It meant the mortgage on his London flat increased from £130,000 to £190,000 - he designated the flat as his "second home" and went on to claim expenses on the interest of the £190,000 mortgage.It meant the mortgage on his London flat increased from £130,000 to £190,000 - he designated the flat as his "second home" and went on to claim expenses on the interest of the £190,000 mortgage.
RemortgageRemortgage
Sir Thomas said that breached a rule that MPs are not allowed to claim expenses for "interest on any additional mortgages, advances or loans secured on the same property".Sir Thomas said that breached a rule that MPs are not allowed to claim expenses for "interest on any additional mortgages, advances or loans secured on the same property".
He said he should have claimed interest on the £130,000 mortgage and has asked Mr Browne to repay the difference.He said he should have claimed interest on the £130,000 mortgage and has asked Mr Browne to repay the difference.
Mr Browne says the rule about remortgaging was meant to stop MPs withdrawing the equity on taxpayer-funded properties to "buy a new car, go on holiday or whatever it might be".Mr Browne says the rule about remortgaging was meant to stop MPs withdrawing the equity on taxpayer-funded properties to "buy a new car, go on holiday or whatever it might be".
But he said the increase in his London flat's value happened before he became an MP and before he made any expenses claims on the mortgage.But he said the increase in his London flat's value happened before he became an MP and before he made any expenses claims on the mortgage.
"I don't think that's a reasonable application of the rules and I think the money that accrued to me prior to my election is mine to spend as I see fit," he told the BBC."I don't think that's a reasonable application of the rules and I think the money that accrued to me prior to my election is mine to spend as I see fit," he told the BBC.
He argued that under Sir Thomas's interpretation of the rules, he could have sold the flat and bought a new one and claimed 100% of the mortgage interest, or claimed for his Taunton home - even though either option would have cost the taxpayer more.He argued that under Sir Thomas's interpretation of the rules, he could have sold the flat and bought a new one and claimed 100% of the mortgage interest, or claimed for his Taunton home - even though either option would have cost the taxpayer more.
"I think I acted in good faith," he told the BBC."I think I acted in good faith," he told the BBC.
"If the appeal decides to uphold Sir Thomas Legg's verdict then I will find a way of raising the money to pay that amount back into the system... the reason there is an appeals process is there is a recognition there are lots of shades of grey, not all of these decisions are straightforward.""If the appeal decides to uphold Sir Thomas Legg's verdict then I will find a way of raising the money to pay that amount back into the system... the reason there is an appeals process is there is a recognition there are lots of shades of grey, not all of these decisions are straightforward."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown asked Sir Thomas to look for mistakes made in expenses claims approved by the Commons Fees Office over five years, when the expenses scandal broke in May.Prime Minister Gordon Brown asked Sir Thomas to look for mistakes made in expenses claims approved by the Commons Fees Office over five years, when the expenses scandal broke in May.
But he has applied his own limits on what he thinks should have been claimed for gardening and cleaning. Several MPs have been asked to repay the difference - sometimes amounting to thousands of pounds.But he has applied his own limits on what he thinks should have been claimed for gardening and cleaning. Several MPs have been asked to repay the difference - sometimes amounting to thousands of pounds.
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.