Another UK Lawmaker Suspended Over Expenses

1st MP to step down says he acted '1 million percent by the book'

(NEWSER) - Britain’s justice minister resigned today amid a furor over a sketchy rental agreement, the first MP to do so following the revelation of excessive expenses charged by members of parliament to taxpayers, the Telegraph reports. Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched an investigation into whether Shahid Malik breached conduct codes in securing a lease at well below market rates in his home district, then using housing allowances to fix up his London pad. More»

Freelancer's Freedom of Information Act query lifted lid on abuse of system

(NEWSER) - The scandal shaking Britain's Parliament to its core was set in motion by a simple request from a freelance American writer, the New York Times reports. Heather Brooke submitted a query about politicians' expenses under Britain's Freedom of Information Act after it came into effect, only to meet years of stonewalling before lawmakers agreed to release the info in July—and then to be scooped by the Daily Telegraph, which bought and published a leaked list of wildly inappropriate expense claims. More»

(NEWSER) - The improper-expenses scandal roiling the British government is so crippling that the entire parliament ought to be dissolved, and an emergency general election held, opposition leader David Cameron said today. The “political system is paralyzed,” said Cameron, who could push for a June vote, the Telegraph reports. “The country doesn’t want to wait another year to pass judgment on this government.” More»

Ministers charged taxpayers for maids, x-rated movies, cat food

(NEWSER) - Britain is up in arms today over a series of outrageous and in many cases ridiculous expense account charges from some members of the government. The expense reports were leaked to the Daily Telegraph, which yesterday revealed, that Gordon Brown had paid his brother $9,800 for housecleaning services and that other cabinet ministers had expensed the likes of x-rated movies, cat food, pool maintenance, horse manure, hanging plant baskets, and toilet seats. More»

PM had called for ministers to pony up

(NEWSER) - Gordon Brown has been sent a bill for £12,415 ($19,600) for questionable expense account claims, and the prime minister intends to pay up, 10 Downing St. announced today. The lion’s share of that money was used for housecleaning, with a bit going to gardening and decorating. Both Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg received nastygrams from an auditor, the Daily Telegraph reports. More»