Brown steps in to ease pressure on Home Secretary over expenses
Mar 31 2009 by Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Post
Jacqui Smith’s job appeared secure last night as Gordon Brown stepped in to offer the Home Secretary his full support.
The Prime Minister described Ms Smith’s use of Commons expenses for two adult films watched by her husband as a “personal matter”.
He called for the Redditch MP to be allowed to get on with her work as Home Secretary,
It followed reports which revealed her husband Richard Timney had watched two pornographic films at the family home in Redditch, Worcestershire, which Ms Smith later charged to Commons expenses.
The Prime Minister was asked at a press conference in 10 Downing Street whether he still had confidence in Ms Smith, who is already under investigation for claiming second home expenses on her family house in her constituency while living as a lodger with her sister in London.
Mr Brown said: “The Home Secretary is doing a great job and I do not think this issue should be allowed to detract from everything she is doing to ensure we protect the public and keep our neighbourhoods safe.
“She has done the right thing by taking steps to rectify the mistake that was made as soon as she became aware of it.”
Mr Brown continued: “This is very much a personal matter for Jacqui. She has made her apology, her husband has made clear that he has apologised.
“The best thing is that Jacqui Smith gets on with her work, which is what she wants to do.”
Conservative leader David Cameron said he believed Ms Smith had “questions to answer” about her reported claim of at least £116,000 in second home allowances on her Redditch family home while listing a London flat she shares with her sister as her main home. That claim is already under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, John Lyon.
But, asked if she should resign following the revelations at the weekend, the Tory leader said: “I do not think this individual thing is the issue.
“I think she has got some questions to answer about the second home issue. It does seem to me pretty incredible to claim that the home where her family is, that is not her main home.
“The Prime Minister has ordered a review but he has sort of kicked it into the long grass. The review doesn’t start until September, it is not going to report until after the next election. That is hopeless.”
