Legg inquiry fingers half House of Commons

“This rotten parliament.” The Daily Telegraph’s front page headline, with a photo of the spires of Westminster under louring clouds, pulls no punches. Almost a year after the London daily broke the news that MPs were over-claiming on expenses, the audit conducted by Sir Thomas Legg, has published its reports showing “that abuse of the system was far more widespread than the few "bad apples" blamed initially for the scandal.” Up to half of the House of Commons’ is to be forced to pay back £1m (€1.15m) for false claims. According to Sir Thomas’ report, the gravest offences concerned bills for maintenance of second homes and exhorbitant travel costs, with one MP needing £38,550 (€44,000) for the latter. Also disclosed was that “dozens of MPs had booked dining rooms in Parliament to allow lobbyists and private firms to host receptions and dinners.”