Shadow attorney general to question expense demands

The new shadow attorney general Edward Garnier MP has also been asked to repay over £3,700 that he claimed.

Garnier said he only ever made one claim for gardening, £1,920 in March 2006, and it was for several years’ worth of stuff.

But because he submitted the claim at one time it exceeded Sir Thomas’ £1,000 annual limit by £920.

The rest of the demanded payback, some £2,796, was because the amount his documentation showed he was claiming for rent was more than his tenancy agreement suggested he needed to.

The shadow attorney general said this was because he had classified all monthly claims – for food, bills etc. – as “rent” on the form. If he’d filled out the form properly he would not have been penalised, he said.

He’s challenging Sir Thomas’ provisional findings, but has said he’ll pay if the former civil servant doesn’t change his mind.