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

(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,... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

2 comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Miami Face-Eater Identified

Chagas Disease the 'New AIDS of the Americas'

Guardian (UK) (Source Grid »)
Telegraph (UK) (Source Grid »)

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

Throw 'em all out
Telegraph (UK)

World

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

More Newser Stories

UK Expenses Scandal Hits Alistair Darling

Govt's No. 2 claimed 2 houses at same time, may be demoted

(NEWSER) - Britain's ongoing political expenses scandal reached all the way to the second-highest post in government today, after the Telegraph broke news that Chancellor Alistair Darling reportedly expensed the service charge on a South London apartment he was renting out while also claiming allowances on his Downing Street house. Though he denies the allegation, Darling this morning agreed to pay back about $1,500; speculation is growing that he will be demoted in a government reshuffle as soon as Friday. More»

UK Expenses Scandal Claims House Speaker

House of Commons speaker Michael Martin steps down

(NEWSER) - The ongoing controversy surrounding British MPs' lavish expenses has claimed its biggest victim: the speaker of the House of Commons. Michael Martin, who presides over the country's main legislative body, will announce his resignation today after losing the support of party leaders, including Gordon Brown—not for cheating on his expenses, but for fighting the release of the expense records that revealed MPs charging taxpayers for everything from bogus mortgages to pornography, reports the Guardian. More»

As 4th Minister Quits, Brown's Outlook Bleak

Blears resigns in potentially fatal blow to PM's authority

(NEWSER) - With one day to go before clutch British elections, another minister resigned from Gordon Brown's Cabinet today, dealing the beleaguered PM another devastating blow. Hazel Blears, an arch-Blairite who was exposed for avoiding $21,000 in capital gains tax, refused to praise Brown in her resignation statement. She is the fourth minister to quit in the past 24 hours, reports the Times of London—and if election results are as bad as predicted, Brown could soon be forced from office. More»

British MP Billed Taxpayers for 'Servants' Wing'

Tory then sold house and evaded capital gains tax

(NEWSER) - Just when the scandal over British MPs' expenses seemed to be petering out comes news that a Conservative legislator charged taxpayers $27,000 to build servants' quarters at his second home, the Times of London reports. Sir John Butterfill told the BBC the suggestion he had servants was a "gross misrepresentation." But then he slipped up when he tried to apologize for failing to separate his own home from "the servants', er, the staff wing." More»

Brown to Purge Cabinet After Expenses Flap

Scandal-hit ministers face axe as PM plans government overhaul

(NEWSER) - Gordon Brown has been dropping hints of a major reshuffle and possible constitutional reform as the crisis over British MPs' expenses continues. The Telegraph alleged today that two ministers fiddled with the rules to avoid paying capital gains tax after selling their homes. The PM is said to be preparing an overhaul of his cabinet, and modernizers in the government are pushing him to hold a constitutional convention. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Media Playing Dirty in Brown Expenses Flap

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

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

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

UK Expenses Scandal Hits Alistair Darling

Govt's No. 2 claimed 2 houses at same time, may be demoted

UK Expenses Scandal Claims House Speaker

House of Commons speaker Michael Martin steps down

As 4th Minister Quits, Brown's Outlook Bleak

Blears resigns in potentially fatal blow to PM's authority

British MP Billed Taxpayers for 'Servants' Wing'

Tory then sold house and evaded capital gains tax

Brown to Purge Cabinet After Expenses Flap

Scandal-hit ministers face axe as PM plans government overhaul

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?