Legg says Laing did nothing wrong

12th October 2009

DESPITE NOT BEING REQUIRED TO PAY ANYTHING BACK BY THE AUTHORITIES, MP STILL FEELS IT IS "MORALLY RIGHT" TO VOLUNTARILLY PAY BACK £25,000 AS A RECOGNITION OF THE PUBLIC ANGER AT SYSTEM OF MPs' EXPENSES.

Eleanor Laing was cleared yesterday of any wrongdoing by an independent auditor appointed by the Prime Minister to review all payments to MPs over the past five years. In his letter to Eleanor, Sir Thomas Legg said:
 

"In your case, having examined the records in the light of my interpretation of the rules and standards in force at the time, I have not identified any payments made to you under the ACA during the review period (2004 - 2009) which I consider call for any repayment or further supporting evidence to be provided by you. Accordingly, my conclusion is that no action is required from you in this matter."

 
Nonetheless, Eleanor feels that it is morally right to repay £25,000 (the equivalent of one year's ACA) as a recognition of the depth of public anger over the system of MPs' expenses. She has replied to Sir Thomas Legg enclosing a cheque for this amount, stating,

"Dear Sir Thomas,

Thank you for your letter of 12th October regarding my use of the Additional Costs Allowance. I am very pleased to note your conclusion that no action is required from me as you have identified no payments which call for any repayment or further supporting evidence.

When this matter arose in June, I recognised the depth of public anger about the system of MPs’ remuneration and offered to pay back £25,000, being approximately one year’s ACA. Having made that offer some 4 months ago, I feel honour bound to make the payment, while acknowledging that I am not required to do so. Accordingly I enclose a cheque in the sum of £25,000.

Given that this amount does not represent a repayment for any particular item, nor to any particular account, may I request that you and your committee consider sending the money to a charity which helps homeless children, such as Barnardo’s?"

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Laing MP
 
 
Eleanor Laing also today re-affirmed her intention to stand at the next general election as Conservative candidate for Epping Forest and is looking forward to the general meeting on October 26th.

She said:

“I welcome the opportunity that a General Meeting will provide for me to meet directly a large number of our Conservative members here in the Epping Forest constituency.

“I have been touched by the very many messages of support I have received in recent weeks and I hope that that support will be reflected in the outcome of the meeting. I am also pleased that I will have the chance to set the record straight (having received, for example, an apology for a number of inaccuracies in a recent newspaper report).”

Notes

The Executive Council of Epping Forest Conservative Association has twice decided to support Eleanor Laing, on 10th July and then, again, on 2nd October when, in a secret ballot, a substantial majority voted in her favour and confirmed their confidence in her as the Conservative Candidate for the forthcoming General Election.
 
The Meeting will consider the following Motion,

“This General Meeting of the Epping Forest Conservative Association confirms its confidence in Eleanor Laing MP as the Conservative Candidate for the next General Election”.

 
Sir Thomas Legg, who was appointed by the Prime Minister to examine claims made by Members of Parliament under the Additional Costs Allowance, has today sent letters to all MPs. Over 500 MPs will have to answer further queries.

 

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