Scottish MP gets the cheque book out

I was surprised to hear that Mark Lazarowicz, my local MP, has felt forced to pay money back to Westminster. I've never met the man but he seems a thoroughly decent chap, not that that couldn't still be the case even if there has been an errant expenses claim recently.

Mark's rather circular argument seems to go that he doesn't think he has done anything wrong but he will pay back some £2,500 of legal costs relating to a new flat anyway.

Personally, if I felt I hadn't done something wrong I would place confidence in the strength of my argument and defend my position all the way so I'm a bit unclear as to why Mark is so quick to give up so much money.

As for the legal bill under question, on Mark's blog he said the following last month:

My claim for a 'second home' did go up, although still some way off the maximum, because I incurred an unexpectedly high legal bill in connection with the the ground lease for my London flat (which is the one for which I reclaim the cost of mortgage interest). I realise this won't satisfy those who think all MPs should travel to London by overnight bus and stay in hostels when we are here, but hopefully it will satisfy more reasonable enquirers!

Honestly, without knowing the detail of the bill, that all sounds fair enough.

But back then there was no appreciation that the money would have to be paid back and there was also a rather petulant kick out at a reasonably sceptical public to boot. Bit of a U-Turn since then I would say and we're still none the wiser as to why.

And, in the spirit of fairness, I would like to think Angus Robertson isn't answering calls this evening because he is busy with his calculator working out how much of the £1,199 cost of his new tv is going to be paid back to the public purse.