Expenses
Apology from Fees Office
The House of Commons Fees office apologised twice for giving the wrong advice.
Read the letter in full.
Margaret is currently making arrangements with the House of Commons to pay back £22,500. A substantial amount has already been paid, with the rest repaid in instalments.
Expenses Q&A
The following Q&A is presented in the interests of accuracy in view of the myths and lies which have been presented as fact.
Q. Does MM employ family members as parliamentary staff?
A. MM does not and never has employed any family members as staff.
Q. MM made claims for a Southampton home against the advice of the Fees Office (Resources and Admin Office).
A. Untrue. The Fees office advised on 3 separate occasions at the request of Margaret Moran MP that a claim for Southampton was permissible. They even pointed out at her request the specific paragraph permitting such a claim.
They have acknowledged and apologised now on four separate occasions, verbally and in writing after the media converage for their errors. Coped of the letters are below.
Q MM defied the fees office who wrote to her to say the claim was against the spirit of the system.
A Untrue. The Fees office have NEVER written or communicated with MM to say the claim was against the spirit of the ACA. They have confirmed this in writing.
Q. MM claimed for a seaside home.
A. Untrue. The property is nowhere near the sea; it is a modest terraced house in the middle of Southampton and has been the home of her partner of 30 years, for over 20 years as he works in Southampton. She shares the cost.
Q. MM flipped properties to make a profit.
A. Untrue. MM has not changed designation except where it has been a requirement of her work and has always taken advice. No property has been sold and any change of designation has been either a reflection of the reality of her working life or required by Parliamentary rules. See below. No property has been sold and so no Capital Gains Tax is payable.
Q. MM did not need a second home.
A. Unlike some other neighbouring MPs, MM has held senior positions since 1997 requiring working long hours; late nights and early mornings making commuting difficult or impossible.
As a Parliamentary Private Secretary to a series of Secretaries of State from 1997 to 2003 including to Mo Mowlam, MM was required to work very long hours.
She was REQUIRED by the House authorities to change her second home delegation to London when she became a Minster (she became a whip between 2003-2005).
Q. MM has avoided capital gains tax.
A. Untrue. See above.
Q. MM refused and was forced or failed to repay any monies.
A.Untrue. Margaret Moran volunteered to repay Southampton monies despite the fees office admitted errors, long before any other MP. She has repaid part of the money and has made arrangements in respects of further repayments.
Q. MM and her partner have finanaclly benefited from payments to a company and use of parliamentary facilities.
A. Untrue. Both are unremunerated directors. Neither has received any benefit. Margaret Moran as Chair has been reimbursed expenses only. She has in fact been subsidising the organisation since its inception. The Company is a non profit. All “profits” are used to tackle issues such as domestic violence and forced marriage. These matters are subject to litigation. They are also subject to a police enquiry in respect of action by third parties.
Q. Who is looking into these allegations?
A. Ms Moran MP voluntarily referred herself to the Parliamentary Commissioner on all these matters. The Labour party did not request or consider anything other than media coverage prior to its hearing.
Q. The Prime Minister declared her actions “unacceptable”. He must be correct.
A. Neither he nor anyone in the Party sought any explanataions or evidence. They relied entirely on media coverage.
Statement
Margaret issued the following statement at the end of May:
I was first elected as MP for Luton South in May 1997. I want to express my gratitude to the people of Luton in general and my constituents in particular for allowing me over the past 12 years to represent them in public life. I have put all my energies and commitment into being their champion and advocate.
The understandable public anger over the issue of MP’s expenses has caused me great stress and has seriously worsened my existing health problem.It is with great sadness that I have today informed the general secretary of the Labour Party following discussion with my family that I intend to stand down as a MP for Luton South at the next general election. This will give my Labour Party colleagues an opportunity to select a new candidate to put forward at the next election.
However, it is very important that I set out clearly that I make absolutely clear that I have done nothing wrong or dishonest in relation to my claim for expenses and have at all times acted on advice from the House of Commons Fees Office in relation to my family home in Southampton.
The House of Commons Fees Office gave me incorrect advice upon which I acted. They have now apologised and I quote precisely from their letter dated 27th May 2009 as follows:
“Documents show that you asked this office in August 2007 and again in September 2008 for confirmation that it would be in order for you to change your arrangements, from 1st April 2008, and nominate Luton as your main home and Southampton as your second (ACA) home. You were told that this would be acceptable.”
The letter goes on to say,
“I can confirm that the advice you were given at the time was wrong…”
Read the full letter from the Fees Office.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is responsible for ensuring that any breach of the rules are properly investigated. I have made certain that I have referred my case to him for a full and proper investigation with which I will cooperate fully. I do not therefore propose to make any further comments at this time until the Commissioner has completed his investigation.
It has been a privilege to serve the residents of Luton South, however I will work hard for my constituents until I step down as an MP at the next general election, but the understandable anger in the media and amongst the public over the issue of Parliamentary expenses has had a bruising effect upon my friends, my family and my health and it is for this reason that I have decided to stand down.
Margaret Moran
