As the anger over MPs’ expenses shows no sign of abating, two North- East politicians have been drawn into the row. Andy Walker reports.

A SHAKE-UP of the way politicians claim expenses could be introduced today as two North-East MPs – plus former Prime Minister Tony Blair – were drawn into the row.

Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell, a member of the ruling Commons Commission, said a shake-up was likely to be approved by the commission today, following several days of revelations in The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph.

The newspapers have alleged that MPs have used public money to pay for a vast range of goods and services – including mortgages, home improvements and pet food.

Mr Blair, the former Sedgefield MP, is facing questions about allegations he was able to claim mortgage interest repayments on his parliamentary expenses.

Also singled out by the investigations is Redcar MP Vera Baird, who is said to have attempted to buy Christmas decorations at the taxpayers’ expense before Commons officials stepped in and refused to pay.

Hartlepool MP and Housing Minister Iain Wright is said to have claimed thousands of pounds on furnishings for a second home – before he had even bought one.

Sir Stuart said that the new audit unit would aim to ensure every claim is legitimate and reassure the public.

He said: “I should think there will be some contrition on behalf of all MPs that we have lost the public confidence and we will seek to gain that back.”

New rules already passed by MPs would preclude a lot of the claims made under the old system.

Sir Stuart said the publication of the MPs’ expenses may have breached data protection rules, although he appeared to rule out action being taken against The Daily Telegraph.

He said: “We have seen with these publications a breach of the Data Protection Act, because the information that the House was going to release in July was edited, it took out the names of houses, addresses, it took out bank details, credit card details.

“No one has ever suggested action against The Telegraph.

“What has been suggested is a proper investigation into who it was that put into the public domain information that was in breach of the Data Protection Act, which may have been stolen, which may be in breach of the Official Secrets Act.”

Sir Stuart said that the new unit would cost about £600,000-a-year to run.

“It will be staffed by skilled people from outside parliament and once the unit is established (plans) are already under way that it should be given over to the private sector,”

said Sir Stuart.

The unit will assume some of the duties of the fees office, but Sir Stuart insisted there was no question of any employees being laid off from there. Some could be transferred into the new unit, he added.

The bill for processing MPs expenses in 2008-9 had previously been forecast at £1.2m – not including accommodation or IT costs.

However, the costs had already been boosted by reforms passed by the Commons last month, that from July will require MPs to file receipts with all claims, no matter how small, and declare all time worked on outside jobs.

The Commons Commission will also consider at its meeting today whether expenses details should be published on a quarterly basis, rather than annually as at present.

Tory millionaire’s gardening expenses

SHADOW Leader of the House Alan Duncan claimed thousands of pounds for his garden before agreeing with the fees office that the spending “could be considered excessive”, it was revealed last night.

Millionaire Mr Duncan recouped £4,000 over three years. However, a £3,194 bill for gardening in March 2007 was not paid after officials suggested the claim might not be “within the spirit” of the rules, according to the Daily Telegraph. The exchanges were disclosed as the newspaper published the latest details from more than a million leaked claim receipts.

In a letter to the MP for Rutland and Melton, the fees office said that it expected gardening costs “to cover only basic essentials, such as grass cutting”.

Mr Duncan submitted receipts indicating his gardener was being paid £6 an hour for up to 16 hours a week, even though the property had grounds of less than an acre.

In March 2007, Mr Duncan claimed £598 to overhaul a ride-on lawnmower and a further £41 to fix a puncture a month later.

Mr Duncan is also said to have claimed £1,400 a month for mortgage interest on his home in Rutland. Mr Duncan said in a statement: “Everything I have claimed has been legitimate and approved by the fees office.”