Lib Dem expenses published
‘Expenses claims made by the Liberal Democrats will come under the spotlight with The Telegraph’s latest disclosures about MPs’ Parliamentary allowances.’ – Rosa Prince, Daily Telegraph
‘The Liberal Democrats were dragged into the controversy over parliamentary expenses for the first time last night when 12 of their MPs were accused of making questionable claims.’ – Andrew Grice, The Independent
‘Leading Liberal Democrat MPs will repay any profits made from second homes for which they have claimed parliamentary expenses, party leader Nick Clegg says.’ – BBC
‘All MPs’ receipts for expenses claimed over four years must be independently scrutinised, Gordon Brown has said.’ – BBC
‘Hazel Blears attempted to rebuild her reputation tonight, promising to pay £13,332 in capital gains tax that she had avoided when she sold one of her homes.’ – Matthew Taylor, The Guardian
Modern conservatives?
‘Nonetheless, one of the dangers of claiming modernisation is that everyone knows instinctively what it does not mean. The danger for Mr Cameron in yesterday’s huge front-page headline in The Daily Telegraph – “Paying Bills For Tory Grandees” – is that voters are reminded that no political party changes its ways entirely with a few waves of a leader’s wand. The Tory grandees are still there and, while Cameron has been proclaiming a new-look party, they have been claiming for the upkeep of their moats, their paddocks and their swimming pools. There is nothing modern in the upkeep of a moat.’ – Steve Richards, The Independent
Fringe parties gain support
‘A surge in support for smaller and fringe parties looks likely at the European elections on June 4, according to a new Populus poll for The Times.’ – Peter Riddell, The Times
‘Minor parties are preparing to exploit the public anger over MPs’ expenses when voters go to the polls in next month’s European elections.’ – Fiona Hamilton, The Times
‘Nevertheless, the damage to British parliamentary politics will be mortal if, as a result of this expenses scandal, the disgraceful thuggery of the BNP is the main beneficiary.’ – Denis MacShane, Daily Telegraph
Speaker under pressure
‘Michael Martin yesterday moved perilously close to being the first Speaker of the House of Commons for more than 300 years to get the sack, as anger over his handling of the MPs’ expenses row spread.’ – Andy McSmith, The Independent
‘Ministers have told Gordon Brown that the Speaker of the House of Commons must go, amid growing concern within the Labour Party that it is unable to regain the initiative on expenses from David Cameron.’ – Sam Coates, The Times