MP claimed for fully paid mortgage
A second Labour MP claimed thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money for interest on a non-existent mortgage, it has been revealed.
David Chaytor is to pay back £13,000 after telling The Daily Telegraph he had made an "unforgivable error" in continuing to submit £1,175 monthly bills for months after the loan was paid off.
The MP for Bury North is now flying back from a publicly-funded Commons committee visit to the United States and will almost certainly face disciplinary action.
Former minister Elliot Morley has been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after admitting a similar £16,000 claim and referring himself to the Westminster sleaze watchdog.
Lawyers have said there is a good case for a criminal investigation into such claims.
"In respect of mortgage interest payments, there has been an unforgivable error in my accounting procedures for which I apologise unreservedly," Mr Chaytor told the newspaper in a statement. "I will act immediately to ensure repayment is made to the Fees Office."
He is also accused by the newspaper of "flipping" his second home expense claims between five different properties since 2004.
"Changing and complex family circumstances have required me to live in different places during the last five years," he told the newspaper.
"During this time, I should have ensured that my mortgage had been switched to the flat in which I was temporarily living.
"Stupidly and inexplicably, and at a time of great personal and family stress, I failed to ensure that this was done."
