McLeish faces 'cash for rent' inquiry
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Henry McLeish, Scotland's First Minister, was fighting for his political life last night, possibly facing a lengthy parliamentary investigation into fresh revelations about his finances.
Mr McLeish tried to draw a line yesterday under so-called "Officegate" affair and his failure to declare £9,000 received from renting out his office while he was an MP at Westminster.
Less than 24 hours before a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the affair, he said he had been responsible for "a muddle not a fiddle" and tried to set out in full the income he had received from sub-letting his constituency office.
But the move backfired spectacularly when he revealed he had received a total of £36,000 from five tenants over 14 years.
The Tories and the Scottish National Party called on Mr McLeish to resign, seizing on his offer to pay back some of the money from his pocket despite at the same time claiming he had not personally benefited from the "mistake".
More ominously, Elizabeth Filkin, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, yesterday denied Mr McLeish's claims that she had cleared him of wrongdoing and warned she was ready to conduct a full inquiry. "I didn't investigate Mr McLeish's possible over-claim on his expenses. I got a statement of concern about it. I put it to him and he said he would sort it out with the [Commons] fees office," Mrs Filkin said. "The election intervened so I could no longer pursue the matter as he was no longer an MP.
"But the [Commons] Standards and Privileges Committee has far wider powers than me so it could receive complaints about anyone, whether a sitting or former MP. It could then ask me to investigate."
Downing Street said Tony Blair had "complete confidence" in Mr McLeish and his ability to do his job because no one had suggested there had been any impropriety. The Inland Revenue and Fife police are now looking into the affair.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments