Chester MP Christine Russell says she has ‘not made a penny’ from her expenses

Feb 11 2010 Chester Chronicle

CHESTER MP Christine Russell has explained why Sir Thomas Legg found she over-claimed for rent on her London home three years in a row.

The Legg report ordered Ms Russell to repay £4,127.53 to the public purse for claiming an extra month's rent inŠ 2004/5, 2005/6 and 2007/8.

She was also asked to repay £860.85 for April-May 2005 after claiming for rent when parliament was dissolved prior to the election.

Ms Russell, who insists she has ‘not made a penny’ from the expenses, says all claims were authorised by the Commons’ fees office but Legg had rewritten the rules retrospectively.

The extra rent claimed in 2004/5 and 2005/6 was due to moving house twice in one year which led to the loss of a month’s rent – as a form of deposit – and then paying double rent.

Finally, Ms Russell claimed for the April 2008 rent within the previous financial year – as she was entitled to do according to Parliamentary rules – but Legg said it should have been claimed in 2008/09. This money has been reimbursed.

Ms Russell said: “The advice from all the party leaders was don’t challenge it, just pay up. The reality, with the benefit of hindsight, is most MPs who appealed have had their claims allowed.”

Ms Russell said the whole saga had caused colleagues to suffer health problems.

She added: “When it became obvious Legg was rewriting the rules and it became obvious the fees office had never questioned any of my claims – even though I had nothing to hide – it did start to make me feel a bit anxious.”

What she finds disturbing is that people who only read the headlines and not the full explanation may believe there is something untoward.

“I think that’s the most upsetting aspect of it. I have no worries people who have known me for 30 years would think that.”

Ms Russell is unsure what impact the saga will have come the general election.

“I think the integrity of all sitting MPs, irrespective of personal circumstances, has been undermined.”

Asked whether she had a chance of being returned given Labour’s position in the opinion polls, she accepted ‘it won’t be easy’.

“Right from ’97 I always recognised I was the first Labour member for the City of Chester which has always been a traditional Conservative seat and it’s been a privilege to have three terms.”