Labour MP Margaret Moran stands down
Labour MP Margaret Moran has this evening announced plans to stand down at the next general election, after the daily Telegraph released details suggesting she had claimed £22,500 for treating dry rot. However, it was the fact that the dry rot was in her partner's home in Southampton which is 100 miles from her constituency and Westminster, raising questions as to how this expense could be cleared. As yet, there is no suggestion of any rules or laws being broken.
With many MPs very much on the back foot Margaret Moran has announced plans to resign because of the impact on herself, her family and her health. She is also acutely aware that the adverse press comment regarding her expenses claims is causing damage to the government and the Labour Party in general. Amid rumours that the Metropolitan police and the tax authorities are hot on the trail of MPs claiming expenses which could be "questionable" we await an update in due course.
Many MPs believed that the outing of speaker Michael Martin was sufficient bloodletting to cool the fury of the voting public that this has certainly not been the case. This is a situation which will go on and on until the next general election and beyond.
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