Thursday, 14 May 2009

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Tory aide apologises over expensesTory aide apologises over expenses

pa.press.net
Tory MP Andrew MacKay has apologised "profusely" after resigning as David Cameron's Parliamentary aide over his expenses claims.
The Bracknell MP said he had made an "error of judgment" on his second homes claims after the Tory leader described them as "unacceptable".
Mr MacKay, who is married to Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride, claimed the full second-home allowance for interest on their joint mortgage for a London home until April this year.
At the same time his wife also claimed the full annual sum for mortgage interest on a constituency home.
Ms Kirkbride registers their London property as her main home and takes second home allowances for the Bromsgrove home.
Mr MacKay said it had never previously occurred to him there was anything wrong with the arrangement, which he claimed had been suggested to them by the Commons Fees Office.
"I had taken advice from the most senior person at the time in the Fees Office and they had suggested to me that I elect our family home in north Worcestershire, in my wife Julie's constituency," he told Sky News.
"My second home that I claimed on is our home in Westminster, near to the House of Commons. Equally Julie was advised to claim the main home in London, the second home in Bromsgrove.
"This was all transparent, it was all approved and frankly until it was drawn to my attention it did not occur to me that it didn't pass the reasonableness test.
"I must say when it was drawn to my attention my first reaction was that the right thing to do was to resign my post, which I did very first thing today with David."