Rebuke for Tory MP Duncan over 'rations' comments
Tory leader David Cameron today publicly slapped down frontbencher Alan Duncan after he complained that MPs were being forced to live “on rations” in the wake of the expenses scandal.
The Tory leader said Mr Duncan had made a “bad mistake” when being secretly filmed, but indicated he would keep his job – at least for now.
Mr Cameron told reporters in his Oxfordshire constituency: “I spoke to Alan Duncan yesterday and made it clear in no uncertain terms that when it comes to the mess of expenses, the words we use, just as the actions we take, have got to demonstrate completely that we share the public’s real fury at what went on in parliament.
“Alan made a bad mistake and he has acknowledged that, he has apologised and withdrawn the remarks.”
Mr Duncan, the shadow leader of the Commons and a millionaire from his former career as an oil trader, swiftly apologised for his comments after they emerged yesterday.
His views were particularly embarrassing for the Conservatives because he leads the party on reform of the system of MPs’ expenses and allowances.
They also threatened to undermine the hardline stance taken by Mr Cameron, who has ordered his MPs to pay back tens of thousands of pounds in expenses and barred some from standing for re-election. Mr Duncan himself has returned £4,000 (€4,600) he claimed for gardening.
Mr Duncan’s comments were covertly filmed by a campaigner after he was invited to the Commons by the MP.
It followed a stunt he staged at Mr Duncan’s home – planting a flower bed in the shape of a pound sign in protest at his claim for gardening – which became a hit on YouTube.
In the latest recording, Mr Duncan says: “No one who has done anything in the outside world, or is capable of doing such a thing, will ever come into this place ever again, the way we are going.
“I spend my money on my garden and claim a tiny fraction based on what is proper. And I could claim the whole bloody lot, but I don’t.”
When he was asked how much he spent on the garden, he replied: “About £2,000 a year and this was £1,000 a year on expenses, you know. It’s just, I’m afraid the world has gone mad.”
Asked why people would no longer want to become MPs, he said: “Basically, it’s being nationalised, you have to live on rations and are treated like s***.”
In his statement, Mr Duncan said: “The last thing people want to hear is an MP whingeing about his pay and conditions.
“It is a huge honour to be an MP and my remarks, although meant in jest, were completely uncalled for. I apologise for them unreservedly.”
