Labour peer under expenses investigation
By politics.co.uk staff
A Labour peer will be investigated by House of Lords officials over claims she took expenses on an empty flat.
Baroness Uddin was reported to have registered a two-bedroom flat in Maidstone, Kent, as her main home, despite having a property just miles away from Westminster in Wapping, east London.
She denies any wrongdoing and said she welcomed the investigation by the clerk of the parliaments.
“I understand that the clerk of the parliaments, as accounting officer, has been asked to review my expenses claims,” she said.
“I welcome this review and will cooperate fully with him in the hope of a speedy resolution and clarity that I did not break the rules of the House.
“The Wapping house is rented, while I own the property in Maidstone,” she told the Sunday Times.
“The Maidstone property is furnished and I strongly deny that I have never lived there. Indeed I have stayed there regularly since buying it.”
Baroness Uddin became Britain’s first woman Muslim peer in 1998.
Lords Leader Baroness Royall confirmed the investigation in a written statement.
“On Sunday 3rd May allegations were made in the media regarding the expenses claims of a Member of the House,” she said.
“The clerk of the parliaments, as accounting officer, will carry out an initial investigation of the allegations and will report his findings to committees of the House as appropriate.”
