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| British Culture Secretary Quits Amid Uproar Over Expenses | British Culture Secretary Quits Amid Uproar Over Expenses |
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| LONDON — Britain’s culture secretary resigned from the cabinet on Wednesday after angering colleagues by making only a brief, 32-second public apology over her handling of an investigation into her parliamentary expenses, which she was forced to repay. An official inquiry found that she had wrongfully claimed 5,800 pounds, or about $9,700, in living expenses. | |
| In a letter released by the prime minister’s office, the culture secretary, Maria Miller, said that it had become clear “that the present situation has become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing to turn our country around.” | In a letter released by the prime minister’s office, the culture secretary, Maria Miller, said that it had become clear “that the present situation has become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing to turn our country around.” |
| Ms. Miller’s resignation came hours before Prime Minister David Cameron was to answer questions in Parliament, which would most likely have been dominated by the controversy. | |
| In her letter, Ms. Miller said that she would remain a member of Parliament and thanked Mr. Cameron for his support. Mr. Cameron said in a statement that he hoped Ms. Miller would “be able to return to serving the government on the frontbench in due course.” He added that he was sad that she was having to leave the cabinet “in these circumstances.” | In her letter, Ms. Miller said that she would remain a member of Parliament and thanked Mr. Cameron for his support. Mr. Cameron said in a statement that he hoped Ms. Miller would “be able to return to serving the government on the frontbench in due course.” He added that he was sad that she was having to leave the cabinet “in these circumstances.” |
| Ms. Miller made a formal apology in Parliament last week. But by speaking for just 32 seconds, she prompted an avalanche of criticism and caused a mini-crisis for Mr. Cameron. | Ms. Miller made a formal apology in Parliament last week. But by speaking for just 32 seconds, she prompted an avalanche of criticism and caused a mini-crisis for Mr. Cameron. |
| Ms. Miller’s expenses still dominated British newspaper headlines on Tuesday, and organizers of an online petition calling for her to repay more money or quit said that they had more than 150,000 signatures. | Ms. Miller’s expenses still dominated British newspaper headlines on Tuesday, and organizers of an online petition calling for her to repay more money or quit said that they had more than 150,000 signatures. |
| “Her speech was so short, and so devoid of contrition, that it was more a calculated insult than an apology,” The Times of London said in an editorial. “Clearly unwilling to accept any culpability, Mrs. Miller gave the sort of non-apology that one sibling gives to another when forced by their parents to apologize in the back of the car.” | “Her speech was so short, and so devoid of contrition, that it was more a calculated insult than an apology,” The Times of London said in an editorial. “Clearly unwilling to accept any culpability, Mrs. Miller gave the sort of non-apology that one sibling gives to another when forced by their parents to apologize in the back of the car.” |
| The episode has revived memories of a scandal over parliamentary expenses in 2009 that led to a series of resignations and criminal prosecutions. Parliamentary support for Ms. Miller has been thin even among her political allies, many of whom agree privately with critics in the news media that she had brought criticism upon herself by failing to sound contrite. | The episode has revived memories of a scandal over parliamentary expenses in 2009 that led to a series of resignations and criminal prosecutions. Parliamentary support for Ms. Miller has been thin even among her political allies, many of whom agree privately with critics in the news media that she had brought criticism upon herself by failing to sound contrite. |
| “I can honestly say it wouldn’t be how I would have made an apology,” Esther McVey, the employment minister, said on ITV’s “Agenda” program on Monday night. On Tuesday, another Conservative lawmaker, Mark Field, described the statement as “unacceptably perfunctory.” | “I can honestly say it wouldn’t be how I would have made an apology,” Esther McVey, the employment minister, said on ITV’s “Agenda” program on Monday night. On Tuesday, another Conservative lawmaker, Mark Field, described the statement as “unacceptably perfunctory.” |
| Last week, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards said that, under one interpretation of the rules, Ms. Miller had overclaimed a total of £45,000, mainly for mortgage payments. The claims were made under a system of allowances, which has since changed, designed to enable lawmakers to have a home in London as well as in the region they represent. | Last week, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards said that, under one interpretation of the rules, Ms. Miller had overclaimed a total of £45,000, mainly for mortgage payments. The claims were made under a system of allowances, which has since changed, designed to enable lawmakers to have a home in London as well as in the region they represent. |
| The ultimate arbiter, the House of Commons Committee on Standards, applied a less strict interpretation of the rules and concluded that Ms. Miller should repay £5,800. It also cleared her of accusations that she had financed a home for her parents with public funds. | |
| But the committee criticized her handling of the inquiry, saying that she had given the commissioner “incomplete documentation and fragmentary information.” | But the committee criticized her handling of the inquiry, saying that she had given the commissioner “incomplete documentation and fragmentary information.” |
| Ms. Miller said she had inadvertently filed the same amount in her claims despite a fall in interest rates between 2008 and 2009 that altered her mortgage repayments. | Ms. Miller said she had inadvertently filed the same amount in her claims despite a fall in interest rates between 2008 and 2009 that altered her mortgage repayments. |
| “The fact about apologies in the House of Commons is that they are always short,” said a government spokeswoman who asked not to be named, in line with policy. “She apologized unreservedly, she apologized within two hours of the report.” | “The fact about apologies in the House of Commons is that they are always short,” said a government spokeswoman who asked not to be named, in line with policy. “She apologized unreservedly, she apologized within two hours of the report.” |