41 Conservative MPs are to make new repayments of allowances following the latest findings of the Scrutiny Panel set up by David Cameron.
The Panel was asked to examine the claims of MPs and decide whether these were reasonable, and whether, in retrospect, some money ought to be paid back.
They reviewed the second home allowance (ACA) claims of every Conservative MP between 2004/05 and 2007/08. So far, every claim has been examined by the Panel and the claims of 186 MPs have been resolved.
- 41 MPs are to make new repayments, totalling over £125,000 - this is in addition to the £130,000 already being repaid by 60 Conservative MPs
- 9 Conservative MPs have agreed to forgo all or part of the second homes allowance in future, estimated to be worth in excess of £100,000
- In total, these amount to over £350,000
David Cameron said that politicians have “a duty to listen and respond” to public anger over expenses.
And he stressed the Scrutiny Panel is an effort to address the public's concern:
“Unlike Labour and the Lib Dems, we have not just contented ourselves by accepting the tired old justification that something is “within the rules”. Instead, we have gone beyond the letter of the rules, examined claims in detail and sought to agree, together, claims which while we believe them to have been properly made, could be regarded as disproportionate.”
David added, “This is just one step – of many – that needs to be taken to restore both some trust and some faith in the political system. Trust between politicians and the people they serve. And faith in the fact that it is still our greatest hope to bring about the change our country desperately needs. Step by step, brick by brick, we can and we will fix our political system.”
The Panel will continue to sit and consider further allowance related issues as necessary.
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