More belated apologies and excuses

From @LabourList

On Day 26 of its MPs’ expenses revelations, the Daily Telegraph is reporting that Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has repaid £384 after it was discovered that he had claimed allowances for two different second homes at the same time. Echoing Alistair Darling’s words yesterday, Hoon apologised “unreservedly” for his “inadvertent administrative error”. Mr Hoon also claimed allowances for three TV licences in the same year, as well as almost £3,000 for personal tax advice.

Meanwhile, new revelations were also unveiled by the Telegraph:

* Andrew Turner, the Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight, used his office expenses to pay for “life coaching” sessions for a member of staff and for wrapping paper bought on Christmas Eve. His girlfriend, who is also his parliamentary assistant, allegedly told officials that she looked forward to buying “lots of booze” with public funds.

* Alan Meale, a Labour MP, claimed more than £13,000 for his garden in four years, buying a new storage building, fences and gates and bark chippings.

* And Tony McNulty, the Employment Minister, claimed more than £2,000 to cover accountancy bills and used his office expenses to purchase a list of postal voters in his Harrow constituency a year after the 2005 general election.