MP Foster to pay back £4,000
Bath MP Don Foster is to pay back just over £4,000 in expenses claimed in connection with the mortgage on his London flat.
The 62-year-old Liberal Democrat has been told by former civil servant Sir Thomas Legg that an arrangement cleared by the Commons authorities in 2005 was unacceptable.
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The MP is one of many who have been asked to repay expenses by Sir Thomas, who has audited claims made since 2004.
In a statement, Mr Foster said: "In 2005, I sought and received permission from the Fees Office of the House of Commons to change the arrangements on the mortgage on my one-bedroom London flat.
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"However, Sir Thomas Legg has now claimed that the Fees Office was wrong to inform me that that change was acceptable.
"For the avoidance of doubt about the propriety of my actions, I have agreed to repay in full the effective increase in mortgage interest payments of approximately £900 a year since that time."
The total he will be paying back will be £4,082.02.
Mr Foster has a former council flat in Pimlico, where in recent years he has also claimed for improvements to the bathroom.
His party leader Nick Clegg - who has paid back £910 in gardening costs this week - has asked all Liberal Democrat MPs to take Sir Thomas's requests on the chin.
Mr Clegg said: "We have got to move on. If we are going to be able to look voters in the eye at the next general election, we are going to have to clean up the whole system, repay the money Sir Thomas asks – where those requests are reasonable – and do the radical things, for instance taking MPs out of the property game altogether."
Comments
by David W, Lambridge
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 10:39AM
“Paul, you will get your chance to fire him on May 6th”
by Simon Marshall, Bath
Monday, October 19 2009, 7:29PM
“The MP expense scandal is a national disgrace. But we must judge each MP on the evidence relating to them.
We have yet to see the system sorted out. Paying back money is not enough in many cases: some claims may be fraudulent. The CPS must prosecute where appropriate, and exemplary punishment given to those guilty of such misuse of public office. The British public must use its voting power to ensure that only those with complete integrity continue to represent them.
But where does this leave us with regard to Don Foster? £4000 is a substantial sum to repay. It is not clear why this sum, arising we understand from an increase in mortgage interest, now has to be repaid. This needs to be clarified before potential doubt in Mr Foster's elector's minds regarding the propriety of his actions is removed. Without such clarification, given the apparent culture of corruption in Parliament, many may make negative assumptions. We need to know, for our votes should depend on it.”
by Paul Waters, Bath
Friday, October 16 2009, 5:54PM
“This story in the Chronicle has really made me very angry indeed.
For over fifty years I have never claimed any government benefit whatsoever, nor had a single days sick pay, but have paid my taxes dutifully.
Yet this man, supposedly one of the more honest MP's, earning in excess of £64,000 a year now admits to receiving £4000 which he was not entitled to. This on top of the £3600 he took from us taxpayers for a new kitchen, £400 per month for food and his TV set up paid for out of taxes.
If he worked for me he would be asked to clear his desk and be fired with immediate effect.”