List of MPs ordered to pay back over-claimed expenses tops 400

Published 04th Jan 2010

More than 400 MPs have been hit by demands to repay their expenses, a far higher figure than previous estimates suggested.

House of Commons sources say the final tally of letters sent out by auditor Sir Thomas Legg ordering the return of sums of up to £90,000 each is more than double the 200 cases previously calculated.

The sources say they have been alarmed by the number of MPs found to have over-claimed.

Nearly one in four is appealing against the decisions and sources fear that the process – designed to draw a line under last year’s expenses scandal – could drag on until the Election, which must be held by June.

It means the campaign would be dominated by an issue that MPs are desperate to put behind them.

Those being asked to repay expenses include dozens of former MPs. Commons authorities admit they are baffled about how to reclaim this money, which amounts to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

A source said: ‘With sitting MPs, we are planning to deduct the money from pay packets and pension contributions.

'But if they have already left Parliament – many went at the 2005 General Election – we are going to have to hope they pay up of their own free will, or sue them for it.’

In addition to the 646 MPs currently sitting in the Commons, more than 100 Members who have left the House have received letters giving the verdict on their expenses status.

A total of 80 MPs from the three main parties have lodged appeals against Sir Thomas’s findings, despite pleas from party leaders to accept his audit.

Gordon Brown was said to be ‘surprised’ by the scale of the revolt while David Cameron urged MPs not to use an appeal just ‘to get a second opinion’.

Among the refuseniks is Bernard Jenkin, Tory MP for Essex North, who is appealing against a demand for £63,250 he claimed for rent on a property owned by his sister-in-law.

Mr Jenkin says he was not informed about a rule change banning MPs from renting from relatives and insists his claim was approved by the Commons Fees Office.

The cases of those who refuse to pay will go to retired judge Sir Paul Kennedy, who sources say will aim to give a final verdict ‘before Valentine’s Day’.

Source: ' Daily Mail '

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