Second Labour MP suspended over expenses
Digg
del.icio.us
Facebook
Reddit
Google
Stumble Upon
Fark
Newsvine
YahooBuzz
Bebo
Twitter
Independent Minds
Downing Street has said that a second Labour MP has been suspended for claiming nonexistent mortgage payments on their expenses.
David Chaytor, MP for Bury North, says the claims totaling nearly £13,000 pounds were an "unforgivable error" and that he would repay the money. He has already referred the case to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Downing Street said this morning that Nick Brown, Labour's chief whip, decided to suspend Chaytor pending an investigation of the matter.
Mr Chaytor also redesignated his second home five times over the last five years, allowing his expenses to be claimed on a variety of properties. He blamed his "error" on "changing and complex family circumstances". His wife, Sheena, said, "He has made a really stupid mistake. It was a mistake but I do not suppose anybody will believe that."
Labour sources have also said that plans to force any Labour MP found guilty of breaching expenses rules to step down at the next General Election are likely to be debated by the party's National Executive Committe in the coming week.
View all comments that have been posted about this article.
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP logged and may be used to prevent further submission. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by the Independent Minds Terms of Service.
- Print Article
- Email Article
-
Click here for copyright permissions
Copyright 2009 Independent News and Media Limited
Comments
Paying it back does not solve the lack of integrity.
If he had not been caught, he would not have paid it back
having all the 'mistake' mp's arrested so that they can explain their errors, mistakes, omissions, memory lapses etc etc?
not voting for them at all?
it is either a disgrace and the system has clearly been abused OR we seem to have a lot of forgetful mp's?
Somehow we need to change the law to make Vince Cable the Primeminister.
can't be outdone by the Tories
I hope more Independent candidates like Martin Bell stand, so we can get genuine people in parliament. I would also like to see a list of MPs who have been honest like Charles Clarke and Vince Cable?
David Claytor blames complex family circumstances? Well it is an excuse.
However MPs that show arrogant contempt like our Justice Minister Shahid Malik in his TV appearances yesterday, should be removed permanently. Not for an enquiry to protect him. Most apologised or claimed an error, but not this guy, claiming he PLAYED BY THE RULES. He has offered to denote the cost of his TV to local good causes. Promoted to high office by Brown. He looks totally unfit for Justice Minister. It is claimed that he was stopped and searched by US security when he visited the USA. Also claimed that he was arrested in Burnley in 2001 stopping a fight between Asian youths. When it is also claimed that the police assaulted him? He is a Muslim adviser to the Home Office and a member of Browns Economic Policy Group.
Which says it all, since we know of Browns economic skills. Not only has Brown got to save the world economy but he also has got to save British democracy. Is he up to it?
This mess can only be sorted out by calling an election and giving the public their say.
if I was PM , I would insist that all I and MPs followed the Ghandi principle and live in poverty as servants of the people should
and for my money it's a bit late for Zanulabour to espouse true Labour values, since they spat on them only a short while ago
very busy
a poor accountant
a very difficult system and lack of clarity
one question how many of these corrupt nasty little people are out there still to have their cards marked - whilst brown sticks his head further up his arse?
thoroughly horrible little people
In a time of recession and everything else that goes with it this is nothing short of contempt for the decent law abiding people of this land.
The cases of swine flu in this country do not come from Mexico but the pigs with their snouts in the expences trough in London, I wouldnt vote for any of you.
PS This is one case where the parliament should be HUNG.
Are we really meant to believe this is yet another "unforgivable error", "accounting error" or "mistake" by an honest, hard-working MP. Strange how all these silly little errors seem to result in considerable financial bonuses for the people responsible.
And if these really were all innocent errors, and these inept MPs really are barely capable of balancing their own accounts, then do we really want them trying to run the country?
Any person, other than an MP. that admitted such a thing would at least have been invited to visit the nearest nick for a chat. Or more likely would have had the cops at his door at six in the morning and would have been arrested. No doubt his filing cabinet and computer would have been seized as possible evidence of a crime.
Damien Green was arrested for doing his job yet these crooks are politely left alone.
I thank you
Firozali A.Mulla
I have always maintained a very apolitical approach to party politics - my view is that is there is a great policy, whoever it comes from is right and if it is a poor policy is needs to be squashed - my view of MP's has only been strengthened in the last few weeks - that there are very few who are in politics for anything other than for their own self promotion.
When I worked for the Civil Service, every receipt had to be produced for every expense claim I made - nothing would be paid out without these. If I made or attempted to make a frauduent claim I was in danger of losing my job and possibly facing a police enquiry! The same must be done with the MP's - the only reason they are now rushing to pay the money back is that they have been caught - I am sure that any con artists up in court for similar offences to the public will now be rejoicing at the precident set by MP's to avoid a proscecution and possible prison sentence.
Any MP who have made a false claim must be investigated by an independant body - the police would be a great start - and if found guilty, they must face the same consequesence as anyone else caught in the act of embezelling!