Talking the walk: Douglas Hogg
Updated on 12 May 2009
Watch the full uncut doorstep of Douglas Hogg MP answering questions about his expense claims, on the move.
Conservative MP Douglas Hogg today faced the press following revelations about his expenses claims.
The former agriculture secretary defended the £20,000 a year in claims as he walked to work today.
He insisted that all his claims were "within both the spirit and the letter" of Commons rules but denied the taxpayer had paid for the cleaning of his moat.
That item was featured on a schedule of all the expenses incurred on the house supplied to the Commons authorities "in the interests of transparency", he said.
"I then accompanied it with a letter which set out what I thought was proper and claimable. The schedule was not a claims schedule It is true that the system is terribly flawed.
"But as to claims that I made, they were agreed in advance and in writing and (were) all within both the spirit and the letter of the rules.
"Members of Parliament who are living in two places are entitled to, and need to, claim the cost of running two places."
