Mandelson caught up in new expenses row

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.peterleemail.co.uk/news/Mand ... 5248574.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Published Date: 08 May 2009
FORMER Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson has become embroiled in the latest expenses row after it was revealed he claimed cash for his constituency home just days after announcing he was to stand down.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson claimed thousands of pounds for work on his house in Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, after accepting the role of European Commissioner.

He had work carried out on the terraced house in 2004 and made a £136,000 profit when he sold it. But he was still MP when he made the claim and there is no suggestion that it was invalid.

A £1,350 bill for decorating the "interior and exterior" of his house was sent by his decorator on July 25, 2004, just two days after it was revealed he was to move to Brussels.

That bill was then followed by invoices for gardening and work to the roof and bathroom.

Lord Mandelson's spokesman said: "The expenditure on Peter Mandelson's home was to repair it, not improve it."

Lord Mandelson is one of 13 members of the Cabinet whose claims have come under scrutiny. Further revelations are expected about opposition politicians.

The details, in the Daily Telegraph, state that Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid his own brother for cleaning services and Justice Secretary Jack Straw refunded around £1,500 in overpayments for council tax and mortgage bills.

Campaign group the TaxPayers' Alliance said the claims showed the need for "urgent and wholesale reform" of the expenses system.

But the ministers involved denied wrongdoing.

[prowler]

Big surprise there then!!

[DGP1]

They've all been caught with their snouts in the trough, what I (and I'm sure everyone else) is confused about is WHY they should get any allowances, a plane or train ticket and if needed a hotel room otherwise they should get NOTHING, I don't get paid extra to turn up to work so I don't see why those leeches should.

[norbert]

Big surprise there then!!

knew it ! - people like that just can't help themselves

[baldrick]

Big surprise there then!!

knew it ! - people like that just can't help themselves

But they do help themselves - to anything thet can get. :mfo

[DGP1]

Big surprise there then!!

knew it ! - people like that just can't help themselves

But they do help themselves - to anything thet can get. :mfo

I think you meant to say EVERYTHING they can get

[baldrick]

Big surprise there then!!

knew it ! - people like that just can't help themselves

But they do help themselves - to anything thet can get. :mfo

I think you meant to say EVERYTHING they can get

Anything and everything.

[DGP1]

Big surprise there then!!

knew it ! - people like that just can't help themselves

But they do help themselves - to anything thet can get. :mfo

I think you meant to say EVERYTHING they can get

Anything and everything.

And whatever is in between

[norbert]

Big surprise there then!!

knew it ! - people like that just can't help themselves

But they do help themselves - to anything thet can get. :mfo

I think you meant to say EVERYTHING they can get

Anything and everything.

And whatever is in between

it would only be a repair to the houses interior or exterior if it was plastering or something damaged inside / fair wear and tear etc or rendering , pointing etc outside - I'm sure it had nothing to do with a cosmetic spruce up for viewers when they were taken round by the estate agents :mfo

[k979aaa]

Maybe he :mfo only sold 30% so that was ok? was it not the case did he indeed use the public's money for himself once again?. :mfo