Full letter to MPs on Legg expenses: review will not be reopened

Here’s the actual note that has gone out to MPs on repayments following the Legg review. (See also this statement from the Members Estimates Committee.)

Refusenik MPs are looking at it and hoping it means they may not have to pay up. Senior figures in parliament say they are whistling in the dark.

The phrase about not reopening the Legg review means it is no defence to say, for instance, that you were given advice by the Fees Office that it was OK at the time – Legg has already ruled that out as a defence.

Your appeal will only work if Legg has added up wrongly (unlikely at this late, re-checked stage) or if you have extreme personal circumstances to be taken into consideration, like an MP who might have been bed-bound with illness in the second home for a period and requiring additional help.

One mistake in my earlier post, for which apologies. Under the 1987 Act the Commons authorities cannot get their hands on a retiring MPs’ pension pot – they would need to change the law to do that. They don’t think they’ll have to as if you’re leaving they can plunder your severance (up to £60,000) or your winding up allowance (up to £45,000), and if you’re staying they can plunder your salary.

Related: MPs to be forced to repay Legg money
Legg letters: Speaker couldn’t stop the ‘Hutton effect’

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