Review of the year: May
MP s expenses were in the news throughout the year, and in May South Cambridgeshire MP Andrew Lansley paid back �2,600 claimed on his second home. Mr Lansley had claimed back cash spent on redecorating his designated second home, in Melbourn. However, he
MP's expenses were in the news throughout the year, and in May South Cambridgeshire MP Andrew Lansley paid back �2,600 claimed on his second home.
Mr Lansley had claimed back cash spent on redecorating his designated second home, in Melbourn. However, he then "flipped" his second home to a flat in London, and spent thousands more, including �750 on a Laura Ashley sofa.
The MP claimed this represented a "legitimate change in his living arrangements", but still agreed to pay back the cash after a meeting with Conservative party leader David Cameron.
Royston MP Oliver Heald did not have to pay back any cash, and said MP's as a group should feel "pretty disgusted" by the affair.
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He said: "The current [expenses] system is rotten and I'm pleased to see a new one being put in place."
Also in the news.
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- 1 'Panic-buying is crippling us' - petrol station owner urges motorists to think before they refuel
- 2 17 of the prettiest streets in North Herts
- 3 North Herts and Beds villages hit by power cut
- 4 Appeal to trace driver after cyclist sustains serious injuries in crash
- 5 Flexi parking ticket rolled out for hybrid commuters
- 6 Get on your bike for the A10 Awareness Ride comeback
- 7 CCTV appeal after vehicles interfered with in Royston
- 8 Heath threatened with 'eyesore' borehole kiosks
- 9 Council leader calls for 'kind and courteous' queuing for fuel
- 10 Street singers lift people's spirits with town centre flash mob
- New mayor of Royston, Cllr Rod Kennedy, resigned from the Conservative party after taking office. He said the role of mayor should be a "politically neutral" one.
- Royston's historic cave closed while English Heritage carried out investigations into the state of the carvings. It was feared seeping sewage was damaging the 12th century structure.
- A parked police car caused confusion for Royston residents. The car was left, apparently abandoned, in The Close for more than a week. Herts Police said it was there for "operational reasons.
