Party ban on unethical expense claims

BRITAIN’s Conservative leader David Cameron has banned members of his party from filing expense claims for food and household items amid public outrage after lawmakers sought reimbursements for items such as swimming pool construction andtennis court upkeep.

Cameron said his party’s lawmakers would reimburse the taxpayers for expenses deemed inappropriate, such as chandeliers, sleigh beds and manure.

He added yesterday that the public could not abide by the expenditures, even though they were technically allowed under the complicated system for claiming household costs.

“Politicians have done things that are unethical and wrong,” Cameron said.

“I am completely appalled.”

Details of lawmakers’ expenses have been trickling out in Britain’s Daily Telegraph, adding a daily torrent of embarrassing revelations about the activities of lawmakers.

The Labour Party’s membership has also been taken to task for claiming cat food, eyeliner and cookies on expense forms.

Though the expense forms were due to be revealed in July, the Telegraph secured a copy of the details, riveting the country for days.

Yesterday’s report included claims for swimming pool upkeep, home furnishings, housekeeper costs and a bill for clearing a moat at a manor. The lawmaker alleged to have claimed for the moat clearing, David Hogg, denied the allegation.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to reform the expenses system, but Cameron appears set to discipline lawmakers who’ve made excessive claims – saying if they didn’t abide by the new rules, they would not be welcome in the party.

“From now on I want them to claim what is reasonable to do their job, not the maximum they can get away with,” Cameron said.

He also said Conservatives would be required to publish expense claims on the internet.

British lawmakers had long refused to offer itemised receipts for their claims on public money, until a recent ruling ordered them to make the details known.

About two million receipts for claims by legislators will be published in July under the ruling.

Critics say the rules are being stretched and that the expenses aren’t independently audited.