Expenses row MP's political roots in Hull
HE cut his political teeth in Hull 30 years ago – but today the career of MP Elliot Morley was in the balance.
The Scunthorpe MP has been suspended by the Labour Party for admitting he claimed £16,000 of parliamentary expenses for a mortgage that had already been paid off.
He could even face a criminal investigation into the matter after the Taxpayers' Alliance pressure group submitted a formal complaint to the police.
In a statement, the MP said he had paid back the money in full and apologised for what he described as a "mistake".
He said: "I accept that I have made a mistake in this case and have rectified it in full. I deeply apologise for such sloppy accounting in a very loose and shambolic allowance system but there is nobody to blame but myself and I take full responsibility for this."
Mr Morley is also under scrutiny for claiming thousands of pounds in expenses for a London flat he rented out to fellow Labour MP Ian Cawsey, who represents Brigg and Goole.
Originally from Liverpool, Mr Morley's first step on the political ladder came in Hull when he was elected to the city council in 1979.
Before joining the authority he was already well-known in the city's political circles through his role as a teaching union official.
He started teaching at Greatfield School in east Hull in 1975 and quickly rose through the local ranks of the National Union of Teachers to become Hull branch president.
But it was after his election as a Labour councillor in the city's Avenues ward that his public profile took off.
Despite his background in education, he became best known for his role as chairman of the influential transport committee during a seven-year stint at the Guildhall.
Under his chairmanship, the committee effectively managed the council-run City Transport bus company.
In the days before bus company privatisation, the firm – known locally as the Blue and Whites – was one of the council's crown jewels.
Former Labour councillor Gordon Caselton was Mr Morley's deputy chairman on the committee.
He said: "I remember him as a good chairman and a highly-regarded councillor. He was very left wing in those days and the main problem we had with the bus company was with the management not the union."
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by rob, in despair
Friday, May 22 2009, 6:20PM
“THESE CHEATS MUST BE TAKEN TO COURT THE SAME AS JOE PUBLIC WOULD BE
JUDGE:do you have anything to say before i pass sentence
MP: i'm sorry your honour i forgot
JUDGE: i sentennce you to five years imprisoment
MP: WHATTTT
JUDGE:you'll remember next time”
by Mark, Hull
Tuesday, May 19 2009, 7:47PM
“I am very sad about this paper how much more it could have done today, by publishing on this site the contents of its page 10 "Councillors expenses will tell a different story".
Goes on to say that the total expenses claimed by Hull City Councillors is £7,250 and was claimed by 18 councillors the other 41 claiming nothing not a bean. Perhaps compared with Ms Johnson it is a non story but a friend of mine was asked seriously last Saturday on the Lord Mayor's Parade how much his second home cost the tax payer. He replied second home I don't own my first its a council house. Now that made me realise that some people think Councillors and MP's are all the same it has been on here often enough.
Well they are not are they! A Basic of £11,640 in allowances rising to 3 times that for the leader and expenses paid only for council business out side the city boundary.
It is a shame the Paper didn't publish this on the web but there we are done anyway unless it is done properly.”
by peteg, Kingston upon Hull
Friday, May 15 2009, 7:32PM
“I think the correct term for their actions is Embezzlement.
New Labour are experts in that field.
Blair, aided by Mandelson and Brown, commandeered all THE LABOUR PARTY's assets, buildings and finances to set up 'his' lamentable party.
They've had 12 years, to sort out these 'fiddles' and were it not for the Daily Telegraph, they would have carried on blatantly milking the system.
The Met Police, should seize ALL the relevant files, before they are 'mistakenly' shredded.
It should be the end of the road for 'Gorbels Mick', if only out of respect for Betty Boothroyd, George Thomas and other well respected speakers.
His only concern is, who leaked the information to the press.
They almost make the BNP respectable.”
by Ernesto, Hull
Friday, May 15 2009, 7:14PM
“I sent an FOI request for my councillors allowances and expenses to HCC a few months ago,
They can all be found here for 07-08
doubleudoubleudoubleudot.static.hullcc.gov.uk/hullinprint/archive/october2008/know_the_facts.php
A man called Sean Chaytor is doing the councillors version of "flipping". He lives in Beverley with his family but registers himself as living in his Bilton Grange constituancy, with his father who owns a house there, so that he can comply with the rules to make him able to run for election. Although he is not claming money, and as far as I know they can't anyway, towards housing improvements etc. it's in some ways a more serious "crime". He is lying to make himself eligible to run for office. I urge you all to ring him, well actually you can only get hold of his father because Sean does not live at the other end of the number given on his council profile, and quiz him on this strange living arrangement. He does quite well out of this as well because on top of his 20Kish salary as an admin officer at Hull Crown Court, paid for by the public of course, he pulls down an extra 18 K plus travel and subsistence claims. He spent 1100 quid on travel expenses 07-08. Traveling where?????????
SCUM”
by Tim, Hornsea
Friday, May 15 2009, 6:04PM
“Ha, there's your much vaunted democracy. I'm being censored.
Peter that's your democracy for you. That's the values of Brown's Britain.”
by Tim, Hornsea
Friday, May 15 2009, 5:56PM
“HDM why are my responses to Peter of Hull failing to be posted? There's nothing wrong in them.”
by Pete, Hull
Friday, May 15 2009, 5:23PM
“Tim Hornsea. don't you think we have enough problems without you asking us to consider your nightmare of last night.
so you think the solution is to have a dictatorship.
Ask the Russians and the Chinese which they would prefer.
A few bent M P's and freedom, or your scenario where by the civil servants and the likes of Price Charles and Camilla rule the nation.
Give us a break for gods sake”
by Mark, Cell block H
Friday, May 15 2009, 4:19PM
“Mr Morley i just hope you like your porridge extra salty if you catch my drift cos if it were any normal soul defrauding claims they'd be sharing a cell and their anous with a fellow inmate!!! Send the scum down.”
by Tim, Hornsea
Friday, May 15 2009, 2:54PM
“People, people don't waste your time name calling. Let's have some direct action.
We all know what Cromwell did when faced with a greedy and treacherous Parliament, he shut it. He ruled for the next few years and, quite frankly, England prospered.
I do not believe anyone has a right to a vote but we all have a right to be well governed. Given a choice I want to be well governed.
Bring our lads back from the Middle East. There never were any weapons of mass destruction.
Take control of the banks. Place the banks in the hands of the Bank of England. Make the Governor of the Bank responsible for ALL banks.
Give control of the Immigration policy and Borders Agency to the Army for 2 years.
Ask the Monarch to revert to their true role as moral leader of the Nation. The Churches and other religious leaders can act as advisers.
The Head of the Civil Service to draw up a plan to govern the country in an Emergency and Temporary manner. This Provisional Administration to be reviewed after 3 years by a common plebiscite.
A written Constitution to be formulated and drawn up prior to acceptance by the people.
Let us not shrink from this task, for our nation demands to be renewed”
by Wolfie Smith, Tooting Broadway
Friday, May 15 2009, 2:40PM
“Elliot - reduce your carbon footprint - resign!”