Galloway pays back thousands in expenses after Parliamentary watchdog ruling

GEORGE Galloway has repaid around �3,000 in expenses he claimed in 2004 when he was Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin. A statement released by the current Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow said the sum relates to a mobile phone bill used exclusively for con

GEORGE Galloway has repaid around �3,000 in expenses he claimed in 2004 when he was Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin.

A statement released by the current Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow said the sum relates to a mobile phone bill used exclusively for constituency and Parliamentary business.

Although the claim was a legitimate expense under parliamentary rules, the Fees Office has told Mr Galloway the sum was claimed under the wrong allowance.

The claim should have been made against the Incidental Expenses Provision but was instead made against through the Additional Costs Allowance.

The statement said had the claim been entered under the correct allowance there would have been no basis for the payment to be reclaimed.

But Mr Galloway said he has accepted Commons auditor Sir Thomas Legg's request for repayment and that it has already been made to the Parliamentary authorities.