BLANK IT BAN; PM expenses vow as cops probe MPs and peer.Byline: JON CLEMENTS; JASON Jason, in Greek mythology Jason, in Greek mythology, son of Aeson. When Pelias usurped the throne of Iolcus and killed (or imprisoned) Aeson and most of his descendants, Jason was smuggled off to the centaur Chiron, who reared him secretly on Mt. Pelion. BEATTIE GORDON Brown yesterday vowed to stop MPs blanking out details to hide their expenses greed. The PM pledged to end the cover-up as police prepared to probe four MPs and a peer over the perks scandal. Mr Brown said censoring MPs' embarrassing receipts was "part of the old system" and vowed a new era of transparency. Speaking after a Brussels EU summit, he told reporters: "That cannot be the new system. "The old system is being swept aside by changes we are making and a new, far more transparent system, is being introduced. "While ensuring that security issues are addressed, our first principle must be maximum transparency." Mr Brown spoke out as Scot-lanYard revealed it would quiz five politicians over allegedly bogus mortgage and home expenses claims. They are believed to be Labour MPs Elliot Morley Elliot Anthony Morley PC (born 6 July 1952) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He was Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Glanford and Scunthorpe from 1987 to 1997 and is MP for Scunthorpe since 1997. , David Chaytor David Michael Chaytor (August 3, 1949) is a British politician, the Labour Member of Parliament for Bury North. Education David Chaytor was born in Bury and was educated at the East Ward Primary School and the Bury Grammar School both in the town. and Ben Chapman Ben Chapman can refer to different people:
The Labour MPs got cash for mortgages they had already repaid - Mr Morley pounds 16,000, Mr Chaytor pounds 13,000 and Mr Chapman pounds 15,000. Tory Mr Wiggin claimed pounds 11,000 mortgage expenses for a home he owned outright. And the baroness got pounds 100,000 expenses for a flat in Maidstone, Kent, despite it allegedly lying empty for two years. Mr Morley and Mr Chaytor had to fill out a two-page form every month that they claimed, new documents revealed yesterday Mr Morley signed and dated his 23 times while his party colleague did so at least 12 times. The pair have blamed clerical errors for the excess claims. But well-placed sources say yesterday's documents were "highly significant" as it proved the pair knew they were claiming mortgage expenses. One said: "This is not a case of forgetting to stop a standing order or direct debit direct debit Noun an order given to a bank or other financial institution by an account holder to pay an amount of money from the account to a specified person or company at regular intervals direct debit n , they were proactively claiming money on a regular basis. "A crime may well have been committed if a falsehood was deliberately practised." The MPs are likely to be quizzed under caution but will be arrested if they refuse to cooperate. If police can prove they knew their mortgages had been paid off while they were claiming, charges are likely to follow. Scotland Yard Scotland Yard, headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police. The term is often used, popularly, to refer to one branch, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Named after a short street in London, the site of a palace used in the 12th cent. said yesterday: "After consideration by the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service Mr Morley has denied wrongdoing but repaid the cash. Both he and Mr Chaytor will quit at the next election. Meanwhile, David Cameron backed the PM's demand to end the censorship that would have kept the worst scandals secret. He said: "The heavily censored publication of MPs expenses did nothing to improve the reputation of Parliament. "All MPs must explain their past errors and account for them. "But I am determined that from this point on myself and my shadow cabinet will do all we can to be as transparent as possible. "Only then can trust between the public and their politicians begin to be rebuilt." Labour MP John Mann was one of 200 MPs who asked for claims to be fully published. He said of the censorship fiasco: "Yet again we shoot ourselves in the foot." Gordon's pounds 500 for painting is erased GORDON Brown's controversial expense claims were also blacked out by the Commons censors. In the most glaring example, the Prime Minister charged taxpayers pounds 500 for paint and painting. But the censored files did not mention the work was for the summerhouse of his Scottish home. Blacked-out files covered up that Mr Brown paid for Sky on his expenses. Also erased was brother Andrew's name - even though the PM legitimately paid him pounds 6,577 for cleaning. Claims which have come to light are pounds 4,471 for a new kitchen at his Westminster flat plus pounds 6,464 for solar heating at his Scottish pad. Mr Brown's spokesman said the painting claim was legitimate and made in good faith as he often works in the summerhouse. Redacting the voices of history IMAGINE what damage MPs-style censorship could do to history. Here are some classic quotes which we've redacted: I have a dream Martin Luther King I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky Kylie Minogue We shall fight them on the beaches. We shall never surrender Winston Churchill I feel the hand of history on my shoulder Tony Blair Let them eat cake Marie Antoinette I did not have sexual relations with that woman I did not have sexual relations with that woman, or more simply I did not have sex with that woman is a political catch phrase that has become symbolic of Bill Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Bill Clinton Do I not like that Graham Taylor I'm in the mood for dancing The Nolan Sisters Nice to see you, to see you nice Bruce Forsyth I'm free! John Inman Is it because I is black? Ali G Yes we can Barack Obama You plonker, Rodney Del Boy British jobs for British workers Gordon Brown Lipsmackinthirstquenchin acetastinmotivatingood buzzincooltalkinhighwalk infastlivinevergivin coolfizzinPepsi Legendary 70s ad slogan This lady's not for turning Margaret Thatcher As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know Donald Rumsfeld Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn Rhett Butler SUMMER HOUSE pounds 500 claimed for paint and painting WORK IN GARDEN Charged taxpayers pounds 15,000 a year & RISING DAMP pounds 1,472 for providing new damp course TOILET REFURB REFURB Refurbished pounds 2,713 for painting understairs loo SOLAR PANELS pounds 6,464.56p on roof heating installation CAPTION(S): UNDER INVESTIGATION MPs Bill Wiggin, Ben Chapman, David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and peer Baroness Uddin CENSORED His expense claims and Scottish home |
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