WORLD> Europe
Britain's expense scandal widens
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-15 21:54

LONDON -- Britain's expense scandal widened Friday with the suspension of a justice minister who claimed more than 65,000 pounds ($98,000) in housing costs over three years.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Justice Minister Shahid Malik put in the claims while he was given a discounted rent of 100 pounds ($150) a week by a local landlord. Malik said he had done nothing wrong.

Britain's expense scandal widens
Britain's Justice Minister Shahid Malik speaks to members of the media at his house in Dewsbury, northern England May 15, 2009. [Agencies]

"I have nothing to apologize for. I've done nothing wrong," Malik told the British Broadcasting Corp.

Downing Street said there would be an investigation into whether Malik broke a ministerial code of conduct by allegedly making a financial gain, given his discounted rent.

"Pending the outcome of that investigation, Shahid Malik will be stepping down as a minister. He is not being replaced," said a Downing Street spokesman on condition of anonymity, in line with government policy.

Anger has grown with each new revelation that has been published since the Telegraph obtained the leaked expense claims more than a week ago. Items claimed on expenses by lawmakers have included groceries, furniture, home maintenance and even payments for mortgages that did not exist.

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No political party has come out of the scandal unscathed.

Some lawmakers have returned tens of thousands of pounds (dollars) to public funds. And though lawmakers have consistently said their claims were within parliamentary rules, that has not gained traction with the public.

The Daily Mail and TaxPayers' Alliance started a fundraising campaign Friday to fund and possibly pursue private prosecutions of lawmakers who they say have abused the expense system. No one has been charged with breaking a law.

"As our concern about what's been claimed has grown, our horror of how (lawmakers) are trying to slip out of this sticky situation has grown," said Mark Wallace, spokesman for the Taxpayers' Alliance.

Wallace would not say how much money had been collected.