A WORCESTERSHIRE MP is facing a possible probe into expenses he claimed on his second home after it emerged his two children lived there rent-free during and after university.
But Peter Luff, Conservative MP for Mid-Worcestershire, said he thought that was within the rules and has denied the taxpayer has lost out.
“What I have claimed for was no greater than had they not been living there,” he said.
Mr Luff said he totally rejected the allegations made by a national newspaper that claiming about £20,000 a year for his flat in London were for costs not incurred by his job as an MP – something that is against the rules.
He said while his daughter Rosie and son Oliver stayed on at the flat after they had graduated from different universities in London, he did not believe that was wrong.
Rosie, a lobbyist, stayed on about two years after finishing her education while Oliver, a theatre technician, stayed on about a year after finishing studies and only moved out when Mr Luff sold the two-bed flat in July. Mr Luff, who has since bought another second home in London, said: “It is true that both my children came to live in my small London flat while they were students but this was entirely within all the rules and was explicitly approved by the Fees Office in writing.
“It was never our intention to prolong this arrangement after they ended their studies and they no longer live with us in London.
Their family home is in Worcester as it has been for many years.
“Contrary to what the paper says, there has been no formal complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
“However, publication of this mischievous story may provoke such a complaint and unfortunately it would therefore be inappropriate for me to make any further public comment at this stage.”
Mr Luff said if he was found to have been in breach of the rules he would “take all necessary steps to correct matters”.
Worcester MP Mike Foster, Labour, said he would not comment on Mr Luff’s expenses.
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