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Tory leader is set to decide on MPs’ future

Chris Hudson
27/ 2/2008

CONSERVATIVE leader David Cameron has vowed to make a swift decision over the Wintertons’ future after the investigation into their home scandal is complete.

The Old Etonian said he had spoken personally to both Sir Nick and Lady Ann and told them it is not enough to just pass Commons rules, but that, as politicians, they must be prepared to "defend these things".

Speaking on Granada TV’s Party People last week, the Tory leader said that after disgraced Conservative MP Derek Conway was investigated, he was "found wanting" so he withdrew the whip, expelling him from the Party.

He was then grilled on whether he would do the same to the under-fire Macclesfield and Congleton parliamentarians, to which he replied that he would wait for the outcome of the Standards Commissioner’s investigation.

He said: "A process has to be gone through. We will see what the investigation finds and then you will see a very swift decision from me."

He added: "They have worked very hard in the Commons and people know they have a record there. It is not enough to pass the rules, because their arrangements were put into policy by the House of Commons, you have to defend these things."

Sir Nicholas Winterton would not comment when the Express contacted him over his leader’s TV interview.

A review of MPs’ expenses led by Commons Speaker Michael Martin is now to be completed by July – several months earlier than previously planned.

The Commons Members Estimate Committee said it would publish its findings before Parliament rises for the summer, which comes a day after the review was accused of doing "damage" to the House of Commons’ image by taking too long.

The committee also said the £250 limit for MPs submitting expenses claims without a receipt would be cut from the start of the next financial year in April, with the new maximum expected to be about £50.

Mr Martin set up the estimate committee’s review following revelations that Tory MP Derek Conway had made payments worth £40,000 to his son for work as a parliamentary researcher while he was a student.

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