Harpenden MP Peter Lilley wins expenses appeal (From This Is Local London)

Harpenden MP Peter Lilley wins expenses appeal

12:18pm Thursday 4th February 2010 in

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HARPENDEN MP Peter Lilley has fought off a parliamentary expenses repayment claim of more than £40,000 with the largest successful appeal of any member.

Sir Thomas Legg, who was brought in to examine claims for second homes back to 2004, asked MPs to repay a total of £1.3 million, a figure reduced to £1.12 million by Sir Paul Kennedy, a judge considering appeals.

Sir Thomas told Mr Lilley to repay £41,057 because it represented interest on a mortgage taken out to repay a loan to the MP's wife, whose money was originally used to buy the central London flat.

But Sir Paul disagreed, ruling Mr Lilley could keep the money as each case had to be looked at on its own merits.