Rebel expenses MPs can't escape paybacks

MPs who refuse to return extravagant expenses claims will have the cash deducted from their salaries, pensions or the “golden goodbyes” they receive when they retire.

More than 50 backbenchers are understood to be resisting repaying claims identified as excessive by Sir Thomas Legg, who is scrutinising their claims over the last five years.

He has infuriated many MPs by taking what they view as too draconian an approach to ordering repayments. They argue that they claimed the allowances in good faith and in line with parliamentary rules at the time.

The party leaders have ordered their frontbench teams to pay back the amounts demanded by Sir Thomas, but will have little sway over the many backbenchers quitting at the election expected in May.

But the Commons members’ estimates committee (MEC), chaired by the Speaker John Bercow, has ruled that MPs who refuse to comply should have the money docked from the pay packets or allowances.

That could also include pension payments and the resettlement grants of up to £64,000 paid to MPs who retire or are defeated next year.

The MEC announced it was setting up an independent appeals process for MPs who believe there are “special reasons” they should not pay.

But the committee stressed: “It is intended to be an appeal process in respect of individual cases and not to reopen Sir Thomas's review as a whole.”

The appeals, which are due to be completed within six weeks, will be conducted by Sir Paul Kennedy, a barrister and the Interception of Communications Commissioner.

Sir Paul, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, will consider only written submissions and his decision will be final. He will only examine the amount of cash MPs have been ordered to repay rather than look afresh at the principles underlying the Legg inquiry.

Sir Thomas’s report on the findings of his expenses audit this summer will not now be published until appeals have been settled.

The Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell, an MEC member, said: “There can be no back-sliding. Those who do not pay back will have the sums deducted from their salaries or allowances.”

MPs are braced for more embarrassment next Thursday when their expenses claims from the past year are published.