Gordon Brown to pay back £12,500 Expenses

After an independent audit of MP’s expenses dating back 5 years, it has been announced that Gordon Brown will repay £12,500.

Auditor Sir Thomas Legg has said any claims of more than £2000 for cleaning or £1000 for gardening in any one year should be repaid. Brown’s repayments largely stem from cleaning bills – £10,716 of the total amount being spent on cleaners.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is being forced to pay back £900, after over claiming for “gardening” for the last three years.

Legg has also asked David Cameron to provide more information about payments he has already over claiming on when he changed his mortgage in 2006.

Sir Thomas’ official report is not due until December. He does not have any official power to force MP’s to repay any money, but any who doesn’t is likely to face public backlash. His report will be sent to the Commons’ Members Estimate Committee which could order his recommandations to be enforced.