MPs expenses list up for sale for £300,000
Mar 31 2009 By Jonathan Walker
COMMONS officials began a hunt today for a mole who put explosive details of MPs’ expenses on the market for £300,000.
The search was launched after a series of damaging leaks left politicians struggling to contain public fury over generous parliamentary perks.
Sir Stuart Bell, a member of the ruling Commons Commission, disclosed the mole hunt in TV interview.
“All of the receipts of 650-odd MPs, redacted and unredacted, are for sale at a price of £300,000, so I am told,” he said.
“The price is going up because of the interest in the subject.”
Asked who was trying to sell the information, Sir Stuart replied: “Well we have a pretty good idea of not the person, but the source, and that is a subject of a House of Commons investigation.”
Anger was stoked further when it was disclosed that MPs will get a 2.33 per cent pay rise next year - as millions of private sector workers face freezes or even cuts.
Gordon Brown was forced to defend Home Secretary and Redditch MP Jacqui Smith yesterday after it emerged she had “mistakenly” claimed for two adult movies watched by her husband.
