British Home Secretary embroiled in expenses row

British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was back at her desk today after the latest damaging disclosures about her parliamentary expenses.

Friends of Ms Smith insisted it would be “business as usual” after she was forced to issue an apology yesterday for “mistakenly” claiming the cost of watching two adult movies.

It was being stressed yesterday that she did not actually see the films, which were watched by her husband, Richard Timney, at their family home in Redditch, Worcestershire, while she was away.

A contrite Mr Timney also apologised for the “embarrassment” he had caused to his wife while she promised to repay all the costs involved, including the £10 (€10.75) charge for the two films.

Nevertheless, the disclosures come at a difficult time both for Ms Smith and the UK government.

Only last week Gordon Brown ordered a review of the whole system of MPs' pay and allowances in an attempt to quell growing public anger.

The move followed the disclosure that another government member, Immigration Minister Tony McNulty, had claimed £60,000 (£64,500) in second home allowances on the house his parents live in in his Harrow constituency, even though he lived only a few miles away in Hammersmith.

Ms Smith, meanwhile was already under investigation after reportedly claiming second home allowances on the Redditch house while listing a London flat she shares with her sister as her main home.