Daily News Channel
Britain’s justice minister became the latest politician ensnared in an escalating parliamentary expenses scandal when he decided Friday to step down. Shahid Malik will remain a member of Parliament but is stepping down from his justice minister role pending an inquiry into his controversial expense claims, the prime minister’s office said
Britain’s ruling Labour Party cut ties Thursday with a top member of parliament who admitted guilt in an escalating parliamentary expenses scandal. Lawmaker Elliot Morley was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party, a party spokesman told CNN. It means he retains his parliamentary seat but is stripped of his party affiliation.
Leading British Cabinet Minister Jacqui Smith’s political future is in doubt after her husband admitted to paying for adult movies with taxpayers’ money. The Home Minister’s husband, Richard Timney, has apologized for the “embarrassment” he caused his wife, while she has promised to repay the money spent, including the £10 ($14) charge for the two films, the British Press Association reported. According to British media reports, Smith had not seen the videos and was “mortified” that they had “mistakenly” been paid for using her MP’s expense account.