“Jacqui Smith, the British Home Secretary, will face a formal sleaze inquiry after claiming thousands of pounds in tax payer-funded housing allowances while lodging with her sister.”
Daily Telegraph, 18th February 2009
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“A complaint has been made to the parliamentary sleaze watchdog about Home Secretary Jacqui Smith claiming allowances for a second home while living as a lodger with her sister, it was confirmed today.”
The Independent, 9th February 2009
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“Details of MPs’ claims for plasma televisions, furniture and cleaning bills will be kept secret after Harriet Harman bowed to backbenchers’ pressure to stop expenses claims being published.”
The Times, 16th January 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Finch and another v Richardson [2008] EWHC 3067 (QB); [2008] WLR (D) 389
“For the purposes of provisions in the Representation of the People Act 1983 in relation to illegal practices and to errors or false statements in declarations, ignorance of the law could constitute ‘inadvertence’ so as to provide an excuse for such errors and statements.”
WLR Daily, 16th December 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“A clampdown on MPs’ expenses has been proposed in the wake of an investigation which cleared husband and wife Cabinet ministers Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper of breaking House of Commons rules.”
The Guardian, 9th October 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A senior Lib Dem MP broke parliamentary rules by sending newsletters to constituents at taxpayers’ expense, the Commons standards watchdog says.”
BBC News, 11th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Parliamentary authorities have halted part of a major overhaul of MPs’ expenses because of an investigation by parliament’s sleaze watchdog into cabinet ministers Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper, it emerged today.”
The Guardian, 25th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“MPs will be banned from buying furniture, installing new kitchens or buying televisions on expenses but will be given a £4,200 a year subsistence allowance which can be claimed without receipts.”
The Times, 25th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“MPs’ expenses claims could be subject to stricter checks under plans to reform the system for parliamentary allowances being published this morning.”
The Guardian, 25th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Caroline Spelman is to face an official inquiry by parliament’s sleaze watchdog into expenses claims in relation to her nanny, it was announced today.”
The Guardian, 17th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A request to see MPs’ expenses seemed innocuous enough. But, says Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, the Commons authorities decided to fight it tooth and nail.”
The Independent, 23rd May 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Corporate Officer of the House of Commons v Information Commissioner and Others
Queen’s Bench Division
“Shortcomings in transparency and accountability in the system of paying additional costs allowances to Members of Parliament justified full disclosure of detailed information concerning those payments of their residential expenses.”
The Times, 22nd May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“The obligation to provide information for disclosure pursuant to s 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was distinct from and not limited by the obligation to provide information for disclosure in a publication scheme pursuant to s 19 of that Act. Members of Parliament could not expect to contract out of compliance with the freedom of information legislation nor expect the House of Commons, for its own purposes, to suspend or dispense with legislation without expressly amending or repealing it. Details of a member’s residential address did not benefit from exemption under s40 of the 2000 Act and disclosure was justified in accordance with para 6(1) of Schedule 2 to the Data Protection Act 1998 where it was ordered as part of a disclosure of information concerning a deeply flawed system of payment of members’ expenses.”
WLR Daily, 19th May 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“Michael Martin, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has abandoned a legal bid, costing taxpayers £150,000, to keep secret a detailed breakdown of MPs’ expenses.”
The Guardian, 20th May 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Extracts from the high court judgment today ordering the publication of full details of the expenses claimed by 14 MPs and ex-MPs relating to their second homes.”
The Guardian, 16th May 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The House of Commons has lost its High Court battle over an information watchdog’s decision to force disclosure of MPs’ expenses.”
The Independent, 16th May 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“The High Court will rule today on whether the House of Commons has won its bid to overturn an information watchdog’s decision to force disclosure of MPs’ expenses.”
The Independent, 16th May 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“A second Metropolitan Police officer has been charged in connection with an investigation into the alleged misuse of corporate credit cards.”
The Independent, 9th May 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“The legal bid by the House of Commons to keep the publication of MPs’ expenses under wraps suggests they have something to hide, Whitehall’s anti-sleaze watchdog said today.”
The Guardian, 11th April 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Crisis meetings are to take place in the House of Lords today over a series of sleaze allegations against peers, the Guardian can disclose. These include accusations that cash has been taken from lobbyists, passes handed out to commercial interests and expenses improperly claimed.”
The Guardian, 31st March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
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