Home Secretary faces claim of abusing home expenses
A COMPLAINT has been made to the parliamentary sleaze watchdog about Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, claiming allowances for a second home while lodging with her sister.
But the office of John Lyon, the Standards Commissioner, said no decision had been taken over whether to launch an inquiry into the claims.
Ms Smith has insisted that she "fully abided" by the rules in designating her sister's house in London as her main residence, allowing her to claim payments on her Redditch constituency home, which she shares with her husband and children.
But in a letter to Mr Lyon, Harry Cole of the Centre for Open Politics said that there appeared to be "prima facie a case to answer in respect of Jacqui Smith's arrangements" and urged him to open an inquiry.
Mr Lyon's office said: "We have received a complaint. This is not the same as taking a decision to inquire into it."
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