SORRY SIMON REPAYS 21K

18-12-2009

Erdington MP Sion Simon has become the latest MP to get caught up in the expenses scandal, after it emerged that he claimed rent on a flat owned by his sister – in breach of House of Commons rules. Simon has apologised and repaid £21,000.

Commons rules have expressly forbidden such arrangements between family members, but the Daily Telegraph reports that the practice has been considered unacceptable since 2004.

Writing on his blog, Simon says that he had been given written permission to use his second home allowance by the authorities in 2003, and that the £1,000 per month rent had been independently audited.

He added: “Today, I was contacted by the Daily Telegraph, who informed me that the rules had changed in April 2006 to exclude the rental of property from family members.

“Until today, I had no notion that the rules had changed in this way. I would have expected that in the case of a rule change which specifically affected me like this I would have been specifically notified, presumably by letter.

“I received no such specific notification and the arrangement continued until December 2007, when I moved out.

“At all times I have acted wholly transparently and in good faith. Nevertheless, now that I have been made aware of the April 2006 rule change, I accept full responsibility for this mistake and apologise unreservedly.

“I will agree with the House authorities a schedule for repayment of rent claimed between then and December 2007.”

CAN SION SIMON BE BLAMED IF HE DIDN’T KNOW THE RULES HAD CHANGED? DISCUSS THIS ON THE STIRRER FORUM