MPs welcome final audit of expenses

THE region's MPs have welcomed the final audit of their expenses claims, with one saying it would "drag the House of Commons into the 21st century".

Sir Thomas Legg, the man charged with examining every MP's claim over a four-year period, released his final list of who had been asked to repay what to the taxpayer yesterday.

It is the latest episode in the long-running row about MPs' expense claims.

The list showed that Haltemprice and Howden MP David Davis had returned £917.76 for mortgage interest payments and gardening claims that were found to be invalid.

Mr Davis, who previously hit the headlines for the cost of maintaining the grounds of his East Yorkshire home, was not available for comment yesterday.

Four of the region's MPs – Hull's Alan Johnson, Diana Johnson and John Prescott, along with Brigg and Goole MP Ian Cawsey – were all given the all-clear by Sir Thomas's team of auditors.

Hull North's Diana Johnson said: "The new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will now bring practical effect to the reforms that are needed to clean up the system. It is especially important that arrangements for MPs' allowances and salaries should be handled independently of MPs from now on."

As previously reported, East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight was asked to repay £2,259.99 for mortgage interest and council tax claims between 2004 and 2008.

"The three party leaders are backing reform, I support that and I think there has to be more openness," he said.

"In a way it's helped drag the House of Commons into the 21st century."

As reported, Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart was asked to repay £128 claimed for one night's stay in a London hotel soon after his election in 2005.

"This is a good point to move forward from. The inquiry is complete, new rules are being drawn up and the public know there will be very much better scrutiny of MP allowances in future," he told the Mail.

Sir Thomas yesterday issued a damning assessment of the "deeply flawed" and "vague" expenses system, which led to public outcry over claims some MPs had made to fund their second homes.

Most of the claims were made within the rules, which operated until the expenses scandal broke last spring.

Hull East MP John Prescott did not return the Mail's calls when asked to give his reaction to the expenses issue and Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson declined to comment.

See today's Mail for full reaction and analysis to the latest episode in the expenses row – including how much your MP has spent on travel, stationery and postage.