Ministers race to return expenses cash
Updated on 13 May 2009
The race to pay back taxpayers' money claimed in expenses and allowances by MPs steps up a notch.
The social care minister, Phil Hope, promised to make the biggest repayment so far, almost £42,000, for improvements and furnishing to his London flat.
The move came after both Gordon Brown and David Cameron promised to get tough with MPs over excessive claims and as the Liberal Democrats faced their turn in the Daily Telegraph's revelations spotlight.
Among them, former LibDem leader Menzies Campbell spent £10,000 refurbishing his London flat, and the home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne claimed £119 for a trouser press, which he has now repaid.
Interview with Phil Hope MP
In response to newspaper headlines asking how Mr Hope managed to fit all the items he claimed into a small flat, he pointed out the expenses were spread over several years and no rules were broken.
However, he intends to return the claimed money soon.
He said: "Over the next week we are going to look very hard at what we can do to raise the money. I hope to be able to pay it within a week but that's the work I have to do now to see what we have got in savings and what we might have to do to find the money.
"I work very hard for my constituents. We have had some fantastic achievements and people know how committed I am to them and transforming Corby.
"I know now the feeling is 'is he the man we thought he was?'. I am and to try and restore that trust and working relationship my wife and I decided to hand this money back."
