Labour MP: "You'll have to take me to court..."

Lobbydog was speaking to Alan Simpson last night who has been told to pay back £500 for a cleaning bill.

He said Sir Thomas Legg would have to take him to court before he handed the money back, and repeated the warning on Radio 4 this morning.

The problem has arisen because in one year Simpson claimed £2,500 for cleaning, which is £500 above Sir Thomas’ retrospective limit.

The Labour MP, who is standing down at the next election, told me: “There is something dangerous about someone coming in and retrospectively moving the goal posts.

“It’s like taking the film from a speed camera on a road where the speed limit is 30mph, before changing the speed limit to 20mph and then fining everyone on the film for driving too fast.”

Sir Thomas also found that Simpson had been over paid for a water bill – after he claimed through 12 months of the year, when the utility company actually only charged in eight months.

He said: “Sir Thomas’ review is a helpful procedure, I’m glad it was carried out. The water bill was a technical error and I’m happy to repay that – it comes to about £200.

“But I think it’s wrong of him to actually change the allowance limit for things retrospectively. So in regards to the £500 repayment for cleaning he has recommended, I’ll say that he needs to seek the authority of the courts.”