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Maria Miller's expenses: The mood among Tory MPs Maria Miller's expenses: The mood among Tory MPs
(about 1 hour later)
Mention Maria Miller to Tory MPs and many turn gloomy. Some sound rather angry.Mention Maria Miller to Tory MPs and many turn gloomy. Some sound rather angry.
"She's pretty low grade," says one. "But she is slavishly loyal to Dave.""She's pretty low grade," says one. "But she is slavishly loyal to Dave."
The prime minister's defence of his culture secretary has caused frustration.The prime minister's defence of his culture secretary has caused frustration.
Returning from their constituencies, a number of Conservatives have spent the weekend campaigning ahead of the coming local and European elections.Returning from their constituencies, a number of Conservatives have spent the weekend campaigning ahead of the coming local and European elections.
The story about Miller's expenses has been unhelpful. The story about Mrs Miller's expenses has been unhelpful.
"It's not going down well on the doorstep," says one Conservative MP. "It's blown away the positive economic message.""It's not going down well on the doorstep," says one Conservative MP. "It's blown away the positive economic message."
Those close to Cameron get looked after, he says, while others are more easily discarded.Those close to Cameron get looked after, he says, while others are more easily discarded.
'Embarrassment''Embarrassment'
Another backbencher is more strident.Another backbencher is more strident.
"She's becoming an embarrassment for No 10," he says."She's becoming an embarrassment for No 10," he says.
Her future is in the balance, he adds, and events are moving against her.Her future is in the balance, he adds, and events are moving against her.
The Oxford West MP Nicola Blackwood told the BBC: "Clearly it's very unhelpful for this to drag on in the way that it is." Oxford West MP Nicola Blackwood told the BBC: "Clearly it's very unhelpful for this to drag on in the way that it is."
Miller's colleagues do not need to know all the details of a complicated story to fear that its presence on the front pages of newspapers day in, day out is harming the party. Mrs Miller's colleagues do not need to know all the details of a complicated story to fear that its presence on the front pages of newspapers day in, day out is harming the party.
Her thirty two second apology to the House of Commons did not help, according to her detractors. It was - says one MP - pretty appalling. Her 32 second apology to the House of Commons did not help, according to her detractors. It was - says one MP - pretty appalling.
The hostility does not surprise those close to the minister.The hostility does not surprise those close to the minister.
'Newspaper scalp''Newspaper scalp'
The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has suggested that her role in pushing through same sex marriage proposals and negotiating a new system of press regulation has won her plenty of Tory critics. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has suggested that her role in pushing through same sex marriage proposals and negotiating a new system of press regulation has won her plenty of Tory critics.
His view is shared by her supporters.His view is shared by her supporters.
One Tory MP says plenty of people believe the newspapers' coverage is driven by Miller's role in the aftermath of the Leveson inquiry into press standards. One Tory MP says plenty of people believe the newspapers' coverage is driven by Mrs Miller's role in the aftermath of the Leveson inquiry into press standards.
No close friend of the minister, who he says does not have a huge amount of personal support, he is loathe to hand the newspapers a scalp.No close friend of the minister, who he says does not have a huge amount of personal support, he is loathe to hand the newspapers a scalp.
"We don't want the Daily Mail driving her out," he says. "If she goes they'll think they can choose the cabinet.""We don't want the Daily Mail driving her out," he says. "If she goes they'll think they can choose the cabinet."
Asked about Miller's future, another Tory MP hangs his head, and looks thoroughly weary. Asked about Mrs Miller's future, another Tory MP hangs his head, and looks thoroughly weary.
Miller is decent, he says, and has his sympathy, but rows about MPs' expenses just "go on and on and on". Mrs Miller is decent, he says, and has his sympathy, but rows about MPs' expenses just "go on and on and on".
Whether the minister's actions, her brief apology or an angry press is to blame, his conclusion is difficult to dispute.Whether the minister's actions, her brief apology or an angry press is to blame, his conclusion is difficult to dispute.