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Bracknell MP Andrew MacKay
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MP Andrew MacKay: 'nothing to fear' over expenses

May 14, 2009

Bracknell MP Andrew MacKay says he has nothing to fear as the row over parliamentary expenses rages.

The Tory politician, who claimed £22,575 for his London home last year, believes there is nothing "unreasonable" in the expenses he has claimed over the past four years.

Mr MacKay said he was working to drive down his claim for next year and also apologised for a system that allowed a colleague to have his moat cleaned.

“There is nothing that I’ve been asked to give back but there are others who have," he said.

“I have checked through all my expense claims over the past four years and there is nothing that stands out – I am confident there is nothing unreasonable in there at all.”

Mr MacKay is chief adviser to Tory leader David Cameron, who has called for all “unreasonable” claims to be returned.

Mr MacKay added: “What is reasonable and unreasonable is hard to define but it is obvious that taxpayers’ money should not be spent on swimming pools.”

Claims made by politicians for their second homes were revealed last week.

Details such as moats being cleaned and the cost of lightbulbs being refunded have followed this week.

Mr MacKay said: “The system we had used was wrong and we are sorry about that.

“Last year I was well down in the bottom third of MPs based on what I claimed and I am still determined to make more savings in the next financial year.”

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Most recent user comments 5 of 5

Snouts in the trough. . No shame - still an MP

Disillusioned of Bracknell, Bracknell
18/05/2009 at 17:49

"Nothing to fear" - you make me laugh.

Resign - before we sack you !

Brandon, Bracknell
14/05/2009 at 21:28

So why the resignation then !!

But only from the aide position of course, which is an unpaid position I believe.

So where is the punishment/retribution

Seems to me he is still taking same salary, maybe now for less work.

Token Gesture politics of the worst kind

A Wellwisher
14/05/2009 at 13:06

He has reconsidered his position and quit as parliamentary aide.

Good old Daily Telegraph, I may start buying it.

Bushes Bernal, Reading
14/05/2009 at 11:28

Two things come immediately to mind:

1. Mr MacKay might like to rethink his "nothing to fear" statement regarding expenses;

2. Mr MacKay has been set up as a fall guy and has genuinely not made any unsupportable expense claims.

If 1. is true, then his wife might need to consider her own position too.