WORCESTERSHIRE’S MPs have been left in limbo after parliamentary letters about their expenses were delayed.

Worcester’s Labour MP Mike Foster was among many still awaiting a letter from Sir Thomas Legg, who headed a parliamentary audit into expenses, yesterday afternoon.

The audit was ordered by Gordon Brown, following the leaking of MPs’ expenses claims earlier this year, in a bid to restore public confidence in Parliament.

The letters will either clear an MP of wrong-doing, ask for further information of expenses or ask the MP to repay excessive claims.

Peter Luff, Conservative MP for Mid-Worcestershire, and fellow Tory Sir Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire, were also waiting for their letters to arrive as your Worcester News went to press.

As they waited, MPs were taking in the news that Mr Brown must repay £12,410.15 in excessive expenses claims.

It is also understood that the leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron has been asked for further details of mortgage claims made in 2004, and Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader, has been told to pay back £910 for excessive gardening claims.

Mr Foster said: “I’ve had nothing to hide on expenses and I won’t change my approach.”

Dr Richard Taylor, independent Health Concern MP for Wyre Forest, said he expected “no problems” with his claims.

But Mr Luff blasted the system in place to distribute the letters as “a mess” and said many were “still being printed” at 4pm yesterday, despite Mr Brown receiving his letter that morning.

In an eventful first day back after the summer recess, Jacqui Smith, Redditch’s Labour MP, apologised to the Commons after a parliamentary watchdog found she had “clearly” breached the rules. She will not be asked to repay any more money.

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