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Media Playing Dirty in Brown Expenses Flap

PM's sister-in-law hits back after fiasco over housekeeping

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted May 11, 2009 11:39 AM CDT
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(Newser) – British politicians have endured four days' worth of brutal press coverage after a newspaper published leaked parliamentary expense accounts, which include claims for everything from major home renovations to a Kit Kat bar. Gordon Brown, normally thought of as a frugal preacher's son, expensed $10,000 for cleaning—made payable to his younger brother. In an article for the Guardian, the PM's sister-in-law laments that the Browns' "tediously above board" arrangement has been blown out of proportion.

When the two Browns agreed to share a housekeeper, Gordon "was already the sort of guy who might have to change shirts twice in a day," writes his brother's wife, Clare, and a cleaning service "was part of his expenses entitlement." The Daily Telegraph went out of its way to inflate the claims—probably because "they spent a fortune" to acquire the leaked material. Sometimes you can get an apology out of the media, she reckons, "but not when covering us Browns, it seems."

Gordon Brown claimed thousands of pounds for a cleaner while other ministers claimed for gardeners, beds and television sets.
Gordon Brown claimed thousands of pounds for a cleaner while other ministers claimed for gardeners, beds and television sets.   (AP Photos/John Giles-pa)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stands on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, ahead of his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, in London, Thursday, April 30, 2009.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stands on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, ahead of his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, in London, Thursday, April 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown rubs his eye as he speaks at a school in south London, Tuesday May 5, 2009.
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown rubs his eye as he speaks at a school in south London, Tuesday May 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Peter Macdiarmid, pool)
Gordon Brown's office immediately defended the expenses, published in Britain's Daily Telegraph, arguing that no rules were broken.
Gordon Brown's office immediately defended the expenses, published in Britain's Daily Telegraph, arguing that no rules were broken.   (AP Photos/John Giles-pa)
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Just after 8am there was a swelling crowd of reporters and cameras who had been pressing the doorbells of all my neighbors and asking if they shared a cleaner with us. For the next 24 hours I learned how it feels to be the subject of a top news story. -

We thought we were doing him a small service in that way—it seems we weren't. So, after years of seeing Gordon being attacked in the media, we found ourselves in the firing line. - Clare Brown, sister-in-law of British PM Gordon Brown

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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
ifbit
May 11, 2009 7:10 AM CDT
You're right, of course, TerrifiedCitizen. I just wish these things wouldn't be handled by journalists as shocking exceptions to an otherwise mythically respectable norm. It gives citizens the false sense of confidence that there are no more roaches in the house, and the exterminator is doing his job. Can't we finally move on to the real business of catching all the vermin we don't see behind the walls? This just in: Companies cook their books to make a profit! --You heard it here first.
ifbit
May 11, 2009 5:40 AM CDT
The headline should read: "Public surprised that government officials waste tax payer money." Did we really need a leaked document to tell us political power is being abused?

A bathrobe, a microwave, and a box of Tampax, all on the public dime
Independent (UK)

Throw 'em all out
Telegraph (UK)

 
United Kingdom • British Parliament • Gordon Brown • housekeeper • inappropriate expenses • expenses

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