Charles Clarke among 80 MPs defying call to pay back expenses

Dispute: Charles Clarke has lodged an appeal over his expenses repayments
12 April 2012

Former home secretary Charles Clarke is one of the 80 MPs challenging official requests to repay his Commons expenses, it emerged today.

Mr Clarke "strongly disputes" the decision made by watchdog Sir Thomas Legg for him to hand back nearly £750 in mortgage claims, and has lodged an appeal with former Appeal Court judge Sir Paul Kennedy.

Mr Clarke is among about 200 MPs who have been asked to repay a total sum running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

His challenge comes on the day Labour peer Lord Peston hit out at plans to reform the House of Lords' expenses system, warning a crackdown would deter high earners from entering Parliament.

The distinguished economist, 78, said proposals from the Senior Salaries Review Body to curb overnight allowances and other perks would leave Labour with few people willing to work in a possible opposition government.

The row over Lords expenses reignited today when new figures showed 100 peers claimed £50,000 each last year. One Labour peer, Baroness Adams, claimed £67,000 - despite having not taken part in a Lords debate in four years. Some 18 members of the Lords claimed more than £30,000 in housing costs - much more than the maximum £24,000 that MPs received for their second-home allowance.

In their report, the review board recommended that allowances be replaced with a simpler scheme to bring peers in line with reforms being introduced in the House of Commons. This would see overnight expenses limited to rented accommodation and hotels, and - for the first time - they would have to provide receipts.

But Lord Peston, whose son is the BBC's business editor Robert Peston, said that he and others worked "at great personal cost", adding that in his "glory days" he had earned as much as £1,000 a day. He added: "Having spent 10 years slogging my guts out on the Opposition front benches, I do not think that, if I were the same age again, I would remotely consider it my duty.

"My noble friend the Leader of the House should ask, in case of the disaster that we might lose the election, who will do the work on our side?"

Lord Peston was among several peers who criticised the proposals, which would see them accept a £34 cut in maximum overnight allowances in return for a £38.50 rise in other expenses. Peers described as "mean" and "crackers" plans to limit hotel stays to £140 a night.

Today's figures disclose that 17 peers claimed above £60,000, 11 more than £65,000 and one, crossbencher Lord Laird, a total of £73,000. More than 300 claimed in excess of £25,000.

Details of peers' claims for 2008/09 were compiled by Lord Brabazon, chairman of the House of Lords Committee, which runs the upper house.

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