Smith: I've been disgraced
Smith: forced to apologise
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Friday, 30, Oct 2009 10:33
By politics.co.uk staff
Jacqui Smith's reputation is now in disgrace, the former home secretary has admitted.
Ms Smith was speaking as a panellist on the BBC's Question Time, during which she said that her apology to the Commons earlier this month made it clear she was wrong.
Asked if she had been "disgraced", she replied: "Yes I think to a certain extent I have been. I think it's obvious because I have made an apology to parliament that I was wrong.
"That's why I made the apology."
Ms Smith admitted recently to feeling out of her depth with the Home Office brief.
She was told to apologise by the standards commissioner after an investigation into her husband's use of allowances to watch pornographic videos and her designation of a London home belonging to her sister as her primary residence.
Ms Smith told the audience she did not believe ministers tainted by the expenses scandal should go to the Lords.