Communities Minister Shahid Malik Witheld Details About Expenses – Accommodation Zaman
Shahid Malik, MP for Dewsbury, in England, stepped down from his post in the Ministry of Justice last month after revelations that his landlord was charging him below market rent for his Dewsbury home by the Daily Telegraph. An inquiry was immediately launched.
Sir Philip Mawer, Gordon Brown’s adviser on the Ministerial Code, exonerated Mr Malik following an investigation into his expenses, being satisfied that Malik had followed the rules. Mr Brown published Sir Philip’s report, which clears Mr Malik of breaching the ministerial code over his renting of two homes in Dewsbury from Mr Zaman. The new revelations will be a blow to Mr Malik, who’s expenses have been the subject of much controversy since the expenses scandal begin to rupture.
After being cleared of any wrongdoing by the inquiry, Mr Brown hurriedly brought Mr Malik relieve into the folds of government with a new Ministerial Post of Communities Minister. Following today’s revelations, yet further shadows will be cast on the Prime Minister’s judgement, who is increasingly under fire from multiple directions, including his own cabinet ministers. Mr Brown maintains, according to the BBC News website, that he did not act too quickly in bringing back Shahid Malik to a Cabinet post.
It is likely that another investigation will be launched into Mr Malik’s expenses affairs, however, a Cabinet spokesman said: “The focus of Sir Philip Mawer’s report was on whether Shahid Malik had received a preferential rent – this was the allegation made under the Ministerial Code. Sir Philip has confirmed that any issues relating to parliamentary expenses would not be for the Ministerial Code, but are matters for the House authorities.”
Following this, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is thought to be considering launching an investigation into the allegations. Mr Malik denies the Daily Telegraph story. In a brief comment to the BBC, Mr Malik said: “I have never claimed anything from the public purse for any living accommodation apart from that which is permissible for my second home. I have certainly not claimed a penny from the public purse for my designated main home.”
Mr Malik’s recent appointment is likely to further undermine Gordon Brown’s grip on his government. Whilst backing her replacement Mr. Malik, Mr Brown condemned resigned Communities Secretary Hazel Blears behaviour as ‘utterly unacceptable’ but has been particularly quiet on Mr Maliks conduct, fuelling speculation on the future of the Prime Minister in the wake of these modern allegations.
See the Telegraph article here:- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5509468/Shahid-Malik-failed-to-tell-whole-truth-on-expenses.html
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