MPs' expenses: Wirral MP Ben Chapman’s fate hangs in balance

May 19 2009 Liverpool Daily Post

Ben Chapman

A spokesman for the chief whip said: “He needs to see all the evidence before taking any decision on the matter.

“We have asked for that evidence as a matter of urgency, hopefully tomorrow [Tuesday].”

When, last week, the Daily Post asked Mr Chapman if he had made any expenses claims he was now worried about, he replied: “Not really, no.”

The MP explained that he had claimed for “some bedding and bathroom furniture” for his London home, adding: “Whatever I did was agreed with the fees office.” And, in a statement issued last week, he insisted: “I share my constituents’ concerns that MPs must use public money responsibly.”

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Chapman, asked if he would repay the money, replied: “The answer is no. It’s all something that was agreed a long time ago.” Yesterday, the GMB union said it wanted the national executive committee (NEC) to act against Labour MPs whose expenses claims had triggered “disgust and outrage”.

Paul Kenny, its leader, said: “MPs guilty of this have brought Parliament and the Labour Party into disrepute. GMB members want the NEC to outline the process that will be used to de-select these MPs as candidates for the next general election.”

Meanwhile, Britain’s most senior police officer said he was prepared to launch criminal inquiries into alleged misuse of expenses by some MPs.

Scotland Yard boss Sir Paul Stephenson said: “We will not back down where there is an obvious and clear need to investigate and people can be confident about that.”

Hundreds of members of the public are understood to have complained to Scotland Yard.