British lawmakers' expense claims revealed

[May 08, 2009]  LONDON (AP) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown claimed thousands of pounds for a cleaner while other ministers claimed for gardeners, beds and television sets, a newspaper revealed Friday, a disclosure certain to fuel public outrage over lawmaker excess.

Brown's office immediately defended the expenses, published in Britain's Daily Telegraph, arguing that no rules were broken. The newspaper reported that some ministers used public money to furnish or upgrade their homes.

"I know people will be angry and it looks very bad," Harriet Harman, a senior lawmaker, told the BBC. "We recognize that ... public confidence is dented and we want to restore respect for the House of Commons."

According to the newspaper, Brown -- then Britain's treasury chief -- paid his brother Andrew 6,500 pounds ($9,800) for cleaning services between 2004 and 2006.

Brown's office said the men shared a cleaner at their London homes. A contract shows that the men paid an employee who was hired to clean for both men, including seven hours a week at Brown's London apartment.

A spokesman for Brown, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government policy, said the prime minister had asked his brother to handle the details of the payments to the cleaner.

"There is nothing unusual or wrong about this relationship and any implication in the Telegraph that suggests otherwise is wholly unjustified," the spokesman said.

Other ministers claimed for gardeners, television sets and new beds, according to the newspaper.

It said that Justice Secretary Jack Straw claimed too much money to reimburse him for housing taxes. Straw confirmed he paid the money back after spotting his mistake.

Harman, who is responsible for administration of the House of Commons, said no one had broken rules but acknowledged the allowance system needs reform.

"We all have to work hard to win back the trust of people in their Parliament," Harman told the BBC. "We have already changed the old system, and are going to change it further."

Figures show that the 646 House of Commons legislators claimed 93 million pounds ($134 million) in allowances and expenses last year.

Brown has put forward plans to cut the bill following public concerns that legislators have abused their generous allowances.

Only limited details of expenses claims have previously been disclosed, but about 2 million receipts for claims by legislators will be published in July under freedom of information laws.

Lawmaker Stuart Bell had previously warned that the receipts were being touted for sale ahead of their official release, but declined to say who was offering the information.

The Telegraph declined to say whether it had paid to obtain details of the expense claims, or specify how it received the information.

[Associated Press; By DAVID STRINGER]

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