Expenses audit 'damaging MPs' reputations'
- 00:01:06
- ITN
Expenses audit 'damaging MPs' reputations'
Nick Clegg has called for the MPs' expenses file to be reopened for another look at the "worst offences" by politicians. Writing in the Telegraph, the Liberal Democrat leader has said: "I think most people expected the worst offences to come under the toughest scrutiny. "MPs who avoided capital gains tax, claimed cash for mortgages that didn't exist or "flipped" their second home so they could claim for renovations on house after house. "Every single MP who "flipped", avoided capital gains tax or claimed for non-existent mortgages must be forced to repay the money and held to account." His tough stance echoes that of Gordon Brown who faces David Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions later for the first time sinjce the summer break. Both party leaders have insisted that their MPs must co-operate fully with the audit of their allowances carried out by Sir Thomas Legg. But many backbenchers are angry at being asked to repay money for things like cleaning and gardening, when the claims were within the rules at the time.
ITN | October 14, 2009
