Labour MP expresses anger at expenses audit

Former minister Frank Field objects to being told to pay back more than £7,000 in expenses

Tweet

Print Share

 

Also In The News

Harlequins 19-23 Toulouse
By Matt Halam.

• British hacker's extradition delayed
• Pakistan begins offensive against Taliban
• Judge warns Lindsay Lohan she faces prison

 

Sunday, 18, Oct 2009 02:53

By Richard James.

Former minister Frank Field has publicly expressed his anger at being told to pay back more than £7,000 following Sir Thomas Legg's audit of MPs expenses.

The Labour MP for Birkenhead has been told by Sir Thomas to pay back £5,000 in housekeeping and more than £2,000 in other household bills.

Writing in his blog during the weekend, Mr Field likened the request to being told to pay an imaginary speeding fine.

"Imagine that you have been driving, perfectly legally, through a 30 mile an hour zone at a speed of 25mph. Imagine then your reaction when, five years later, you receive multiple fines as a decision has been taken to change, retrospectively, the speed limit to 20," he said.

"My concern is that nowhere has Sir Thomas explained why he has changed the rules which have resulted in his recalculations."

Gordon Brown has urged all Labour MPs to pay back what Sir Thomas has requested so as to allow Parliament to move on from the scandal and set about rebuilding the public's trust in Westminster.

Mr Field though has called on Sir Thomas to withdraw his request.

"Last week I replied to Sir Thomas. I was dazed that, as someone who has always been open about my expenses, his arbitrary decision should link me with the abuses known all too well to voters. I have requested that he withdraws his suggestion, but I am not holding my breath," he said.

"I share the electorate's anger with how some have played the system. But the Legg Review does not seem to have taken on the abuses. What he has achieved is simply to move around some of the characters in the honourable members and villains galleries."

The last statement is a reference to a piece in the Daily Telegraph which separated MPs into two categories "rogues" and "saints" in the wake of the expenses scandal.

Mr Field claims Sir Thomas' actions have moved him from "honourable member to rogue".