If you’re looking for an example of just how contemptuous some MPs still are after being caught milking the expenses system, you do not have to look further than Conservative MP, Anthony Steen.
He was revealed in the recent Telegraph revelations for letting his daughter live rent free in the London flat used to claim his second home allowance and subsequently selling it to her at less than its market value.
The Totnes MP hit back by saying:
“I’ve done nothing criminal, that’s the most awful thing, and do you know what it’s about? Jealousy.
“I’ve got a very, very large house. Some people say it looks like Balmoral. It’s a merchant’s house of the 19th century. It’s not particularly attractive, it just does me nicely”
He also said that government ministers had “mucked up the system” by introducing the Freedom of Information Act.
Conservative Party leader, David Cameron has since severely admonished his MP, and announced Steel is to stand down at the next election.
Cameron commented:
“It was a completely unacceptable thing to say. He’s announced his retirement from Parliament.”
The whole incident is really best summed up by a comment from Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague who described Steen’s words as “ridiculous”
It seems such a description is also applicable to the man himself!
