All eyes on Kelly as expenses haunt parliament
Tuesday, 3 November 2009 4:51 PM
By Ian Dunt
The shadow of the expenses crisis hangs over parliament today as MPs await the publication of the Kelly review and letters demanding payment from Sir Thomas Legg.
A small group of MPs will be receiving letters from Sir Thomas throughout the week.
Those who were unable to show him mortgage interest statements will face very high repayments. The level of payback will be so high MPs are almost certain to demand, once again, a right of appeal over his findings.
Meanwhile, Harriet Harman will confront MPs over the recommendations of the Kelly report in the Commons tomorrow.
Gordon Brown met with Sir Christopher Kelly yesterday, despite a briefing to all three party leaders last week, to ensure the new rules do not prohibit those from modest backgrounds entering the Commons.
Labour MPs, especially Ms Harman, leader of the House, are concerned a new, stricter code could entail only those with substantial wealth running as MPs.
The Kelly review, which was partly leaked last week, will phase out the presence of spouses in MPs' offices over five years, a source of some concerns among parliamentarians.
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