Post by Pete the Wolf on Mar 29, 2009 11:19:47 GMT -1
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1165611/Blue-movies-expenses-How-Jacqui-Smiths-husband-watched-pornographic-movies--paid-taxpayer.html
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s political future was in jeopardy this morning after it was revealed that her husband used her Commons expenses allowance to pay to watch pornographic films.
Richard Timney, who works as Ms Smith’s Commons adviser, used part of the Minister’s second-homes allowance to pay for the blue movies he watched on a subscription television channel.
The relationship between Ms Smith and her husband was said by Government insiders to be ‘very difficult,’ but stressed that the couple were still together.
It is understood that Mr Timney had been watching explicit adult movies on channels broadcast on the Virgin Media cable TV service.
Ms Smith was said to be 'mortified' today after she was forced to offer a humiliating apology over the expenses claim.
The Home Secretary said she 'mistakenly' submitted an expenses claim which included five pay-per-view films, including two adult movies which were viewed at her family home in her Redditch constituency.
A friend said the Home Secretary knew there was 'no excuse' for the error but added: 'To say she's angry with her husband is an understatement.
'Jacqui was not there when these films were watched.
'She's furious and mortified.'
Ms Smith said in a statement: 'I am sorry that in claiming for my internet connection, I mistakenly claimed for a television package alongside it.
'As soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I took immediate steps to contact the relevant parliamentary authorities and rectify the situation.
'All money claimed for the television package will be paid back in full.'
Number 10 backed Ms Smith's decision to repay the expenses claim. Downing Street said the Home Secretary had done the 'right thing' by taking steps to rectify the 'inadvertent mistake'.
A spokesman said: 'Jacqui Smith has done the right thing by taking steps to rectify this inadvertent mistake as soon as she became aware of it.
'She is doing a great job as Home Secretary and will not let this issue detract from her determination to ensure we protect the public and make our neighbourhoods safer.'
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson last week as she launched a counter-terrorism strategy
Porn film: Ms Smith's husband, Richard Timney
But the Home Secretary was said to be 'getting on with her job' today despite her embarrassment.
Subscribers to the cable service can access X-rated films on the Playboy Channel, the Adult Channel and Television X for around £11 a month. It is also possible to order adult channels on a pay-per-night basis for £5.
The £67 Virgin Media bill was submitted last June as part of Ms Smith's expenses.
It included two 18-rated features, each costing £5, which were viewed on April 1 and April 6 last year.
The bill also included two viewings of the film Ocean's 13 - at £3.75 each - and an additional £3.50 to watch the film Surf's Up.
Tory MP Philip Davies said last night that if the porn-movie claims were true, the Home Secretary would have to resign.
‘Claiming that her sister’s back bedroom is her main home is one thing but this could push her over the cliff. It is surely not legitimate to use Commons’ second-home allowances to buy blue movies. If this is true, I cannot see how she can survive.’
Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik said the revelations were 'immensely embarrassing' for the Home Secretary.
He told Sky News: 'I have no issue with the genre, I do have an issue with one thing, which is he shouldn't really be claiming this back and he just obviously wasn't thinking about this.
'This is immensely embarrassing for Jacqui on a personal and domestic level, I haven't got any particular issue about what they watch in their own time, I do have an issue about the fact that he has compromised her.'
He added: 'My personal view is we should get away from the whole thing so that we can claim our travel expenses, because that is very variable depending on where you live, but the rest of it should be put on salary and then it's up to us.'
The revelation comes as The Mail on Sunday launches a petition to demand a full enquiry into MPs' expenses.
Fellow Tory MP Mark Field added: ‘The entire Commons allowance system is now indefensible. It’s one thing to make dubious claims on the location of your second home but for the husband of a Home Secretary to be claiming for pornographic TV is completely beyond the pale.
‘It’s no good Gordon Brown promising an inquiry at some point in the future. This must be reformed now.’
Richard Timney, who works as Ms Smith’s Commons adviser, used part of the Minister’s second-homes allowance to pay for the blue movies he watched on a subscription television channel.
The relationship between Ms Smith and her husband was said by Government insiders to be ‘very difficult,’ but stressed that the couple were still together.
It is understood that Mr Timney had been watching explicit adult movies on channels broadcast on the Virgin Media cable TV service.
Ms Smith was said to be 'mortified' today after she was forced to offer a humiliating apology over the expenses claim.
The Home Secretary said she 'mistakenly' submitted an expenses claim which included five pay-per-view films, including two adult movies which were viewed at her family home in her Redditch constituency.
A friend said the Home Secretary knew there was 'no excuse' for the error but added: 'To say she's angry with her husband is an understatement.
'Jacqui was not there when these films were watched.
'She's furious and mortified.'
Ms Smith said in a statement: 'I am sorry that in claiming for my internet connection, I mistakenly claimed for a television package alongside it.
'As soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I took immediate steps to contact the relevant parliamentary authorities and rectify the situation.
'All money claimed for the television package will be paid back in full.'
Number 10 backed Ms Smith's decision to repay the expenses claim. Downing Street said the Home Secretary had done the 'right thing' by taking steps to rectify the 'inadvertent mistake'.
A spokesman said: 'Jacqui Smith has done the right thing by taking steps to rectify this inadvertent mistake as soon as she became aware of it.
'She is doing a great job as Home Secretary and will not let this issue detract from her determination to ensure we protect the public and make our neighbourhoods safer.'
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson last week as she launched a counter-terrorism strategy
Porn film: Ms Smith's husband, Richard Timney
But the Home Secretary was said to be 'getting on with her job' today despite her embarrassment.
Subscribers to the cable service can access X-rated films on the Playboy Channel, the Adult Channel and Television X for around £11 a month. It is also possible to order adult channels on a pay-per-night basis for £5.
The £67 Virgin Media bill was submitted last June as part of Ms Smith's expenses.
It included two 18-rated features, each costing £5, which were viewed on April 1 and April 6 last year.
The bill also included two viewings of the film Ocean's 13 - at £3.75 each - and an additional £3.50 to watch the film Surf's Up.
Tory MP Philip Davies said last night that if the porn-movie claims were true, the Home Secretary would have to resign.
‘Claiming that her sister’s back bedroom is her main home is one thing but this could push her over the cliff. It is surely not legitimate to use Commons’ second-home allowances to buy blue movies. If this is true, I cannot see how she can survive.’
Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik said the revelations were 'immensely embarrassing' for the Home Secretary.
He told Sky News: 'I have no issue with the genre, I do have an issue with one thing, which is he shouldn't really be claiming this back and he just obviously wasn't thinking about this.
'This is immensely embarrassing for Jacqui on a personal and domestic level, I haven't got any particular issue about what they watch in their own time, I do have an issue about the fact that he has compromised her.'
He added: 'My personal view is we should get away from the whole thing so that we can claim our travel expenses, because that is very variable depending on where you live, but the rest of it should be put on salary and then it's up to us.'
The revelation comes as The Mail on Sunday launches a petition to demand a full enquiry into MPs' expenses.
Fellow Tory MP Mark Field added: ‘The entire Commons allowance system is now indefensible. It’s one thing to make dubious claims on the location of your second home but for the husband of a Home Secretary to be claiming for pornographic TV is completely beyond the pale.
‘It’s no good Gordon Brown promising an inquiry at some point in the future. This must be reformed now.’
