Bexhill MP promises co-operation with expenses review

Bexhill and Battle MP Greg Barker said this week he 'welcomed very much' an audit on hundreds of MPs' claims by Sir Thomas Legg.

On Wednesday they were warned that they will have to pay back up to 90,000 in unproven mortgage claims.

The Bexhill MP attracted controversy in May when the Daily Telegraph highlighted the senior Tory as an example of the way MPs are helped up the property ladder by the controversial second homes allowance.

A report said Mr Barker had made a 320,000 profit on a flat in Pimlico he bought with the help of taxpayers' money.

The MP said at the time that reports of his involvement in the expenses scandal were 'grossly misleading'.

This week Tory leader David Cameron warned fellow Tories that they would be banned from standing at the next election if they fail to repay over-claimed expenses demanded by Sir Thomas' review.

Mr Barker said: "I welcome the very thorough audit of MPs' historic expenses and allowances by Sir Thomas Legg.

"This is an important step in regaining public trust and imposing the same levels of rigour that one would expect in other walks of life. The process as well as any claims itself must be robust.

"In respect of my own historic claims, some further paperwork was requested, primarily in respect of mortgage and rent payments, but I am happy to provide this in detail as required. I look forward to the publication of his final report.

"I don't anticipate that the continuing Legg review process will necessitate any repayment but I fully support the lead David Cameron has given, so should it do so, of course I would comply."

In April 2004 Mr Barker's designated second home was a flat in Cheyne Row, Chelsea, which he owned.

In August 2004 he submitted a claim for 2,148 on curtains and light decorating at this address.

He bought a new property in Pimlico in November 2004, switching his second home allowance to this flat and claiming 15,875 for stamp duty and other purchase costs.

Claims for stamp duty are allowed under the additional costs allowance (ACA). The 24,000-a-year sum allowing MPs to cover the cost of having a second home.

In April 2006 a 12,452 claim for work done on the Pimlico property was refused by the fees office for being late.

Eight months later, in December 2006, Mr Barker briefly switched his second home allowance back to the smaller property in Cheyne Row following the break-up of his marriage.

During this time he claimed 3,492 on mortgage interest payments from Cheyne Row, before returning his second homes allowance to Pimlico.

Here, at his most used second home, a total of 27,928 was claimed in mortgage interest payments between buying the flat in November 2004 and selling in February 2007 for 800,000.

Mr Barker will keep these payments, as he is entitled to do under current rules, but said earlier this year that has now taken a personal decision not to claim any further mortgage interest from the taxpayer.