Blears claim unacceptable - Brown
Gordon Brown has described cabinet minister Hazel Blears' expenses claim
as "totally unacceptable behaviour".
The prime minister said the communities secretary had accepted it was
wrong and paid the money back.
But he warned other Labour MPs they faced de-selection if they were
found to have broken the rules.
Ms Blears has admitted not paying capital gains tax on the profit from
selling a flat repaired with taxpayers' money and has agreed to repay
£13,332.
Tackled about whether further action should be taken against Ms Blears
at his monthly press conference in Downing Street, Mr Brown said: "Hazel
Blears has paid the money back. She has done so on the advice of me and
others.
"But she has not broken the law, she has not broken the rules of the
House of Commons.
"It is unacceptable behaviour and she has accepted it as unacceptable
behaviour."
'Completely unacceptable'
Pushed further on whether she should have escaped sanctions, Mr Brown
added: "It was totally unacceptable behaviour. I do not support it.
"It is inappropriate for people to do it but it is not, as you will know
by looking at in detail, against the law or against the rules of the
House at the moment. That's why we are discussing the changes we are
doing."
He also cast serious doubt on the future of government whip Margaret
Moran as an MP, describing her expenses claims as "completely
unacceptable"
The Luton South MP is already under investigation after spending £22,000
to pay for dry rot treatment at her partner's home in Southampton.
She has agreed to repay the money and has been backed by her local
party.
But Mr Brown said any Labour MP found to have "defied the rules" will
not be allowed to stand at the next election.
'Transparency'
Mr Brown said an internal party investigation was underway into the
Luton South MP, adding: "The behaviour - no, it's completely
unacceptable.
"The question will be debated by us as a party. The behaviour we are
talking about is completely unacceptable. There's got to be a process of
examining the evidence and coming to a conclusion."
The TV presenter Esther Rantzen is threatening to stand against Mrs
Moran at the next general election as an anti-sleaze candidate.
Mr Brown said of proposed new arrangements for MPs' allowances: "There
has got to be transparency, there has got to be proper audit."
Asked about the depth of cross-party agreement, Mr Brown replied: "I
think there's a general view in principle that this is the right thing
to do."
It came after a meeting with other party leaders on a "a fundamental
rethink" of the allowances system - and in the wake of the resignation
of Commons speaker Michael Martin over the expenses system.
Two Labour MPs have been suspended for claiming for mortgage interest
payments after their mortgages were paid off.
Some ministers have also faced questions about their expenses claims.
But several have said while they agree the system needs to change -
their claims were made within the rules at the time.
'Highest standards'
Speaking earlier, Mr Brown said MPs were elected to serve the public
rather than themselves and insisted he was committed to a "complete
clean-up of the system".
He added: "No minister will be in the cabinet or in the government in
future if it is proven that they defied the rules."
In a joint statement, Cath Speight, chair of Labour's ruling National
Executive Committee and Ray Collins, the party's general secretary, said
the NEC fully supported the prime minister.
“ Labour Party members expect the highest standards from Labour
representatives and the NEC resolved today that any allegations must be
fully investigated ”
NEC statement
They added that the committee had endorsed a "tough new disciplinary
process" to prevent MPs who had broken the rules from standing for
parliament as Labour candidates.
An NEC panel would be set up to interview MPs who were the subject of
allegations, they said.
This will have the power to recommend to the NEC that MPs should not
stand for the Commons under the Labour banner.
"Labour Party members expect the highest standards from Labour
representatives and the NEC resolved today that any allegations must be
fully investigated, and when appropriate by the proper independent
authorities,
Mortgage claims
Among Labour MPs caught up in the expenses row are former minister
Elliot Morley and David Chaytor, who admitted making claims for interest
on their mortgages after they had been paid off.
Both have apologised, blamed it on accounting errors and have said they
will repay the money.
Mr Brown said their cases were being considered by the NEC and they
continued to be suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Labour's chief whip is also looking into claims a third Labour MP, Ben
Chapman, was given permission to claim interest on his entire mortgage,
even after he paid off a £295,000 lump sum.
Mr Chapman said he did not believe he had done anything wrong and had
followed the advice of the Fees Office.
Shahid Malik has stepped down as justice minister pending an inquiry
into his expenses amid claims he failed to declare paying subsidised
rent on his "main" home.
He says he did not breach the ministerial code and he was "pleased" to
have the chance to clear his name.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, John Lyon is also
investigating earlier disclosures about the expenses claims of Home
Secretary Jacqui Smith and employment minister Tony McNulty.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.
Published: 2009/05/19 18:03:28 GMT
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