UK: Departing MPs milked system to the end

MPs' expenses: Departing MPs milked system to the end - 03 Jun 2009

MPs who left Parliament at the last election made thousands of pounds from the expenses system in the months just before or after their departure, The Daily Telegraph can disclose. Some of those who resigned or lost marginal seats in 2005 have since made tens of thousands of pounds selling or renting out flats that had been funded by the taxpayer. Other departing MPs passed subsidised properties to their children, while some who had already announced they were stepping down spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money furnishing or redecorating homes. [more]

Brown's authority dealt severe blow as Blears quits - 03 June 2009

Gordon Brown's authority as Prime Minister was dealt a severe blow today, as Communities Secretary Hazel Blears quit the Cabinet on the eve of crucial European and local elections. But Mr Brown rejected opposition calls for an immediate General Election, insisting he was focusing on cleaning up the parliamentary expenses system and helping Britain through the recession. [more]