MADAM - Neil Carmichael MP has stated that it is “time to move on” in the affair over Maria Miller’s expenses.
While admiring his loyalty, one must question his judgement.
In the four years after she entered the Commons in 2005 Mrs Miller claimed £90,718 as housing expenses (£515 short of the maximum permitted). All this time her parents had been living in the property concerned, an apparent breach of Parliamentary rules.
Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Hudson (despite receiving “a series of aggressive letters containing thinly-veiled threats”) decided Maria Miller should repay over £44,000 because of over-claimed mortgage interest payments.
Amazingly, the Parliamentary Standards Committee accepted a £5,800 repayment as reasonable.
Maria Miller may judge that this, plus a 75-word grudging apology to the Commons, would put the matter to bed.
Has Parliament learned nothing?
John Ricketts
Cheltenham
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