Margaret Moran | |
---|---|
File:MargaretMoran.JPG | |
Member of Parliament for Luton South | |
Assumed office 1 May 1997 | |
Preceded by | Sir Graham Bright |
Majority | 5,650 (14.5%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Bethnal Green | 24 April 1955
Nationality | British |
Political party | Labour |
Spouse | Michael Booker |
Alma mater | University of Birmingham |
Website | www.margaretmoran.org.uk |
Margaret Moran (born on 24 April 1955, in Bethnal Green) is a politician in the United Kingdom. She is Member of Parliament (MP) for Luton South, and is a member of the Labour Party. Moran was implicated as having been involved in the on-going Parliamentary expenses scandal, and will stand down from Parliament at the next general election.[1]
Early life
Her parents were of Irish extraction [2]. She went to St Ursula's High School (now called St Ursula's Convent School), a Roman Catholic girls school on Crooms Hill in Greenwich, then St Mary's College (now called St Mary's University College), a Roman Catholic college on Waldegrave Road in Strawberry Hill, Twickenham. She went to the University of Birmingham, gaining a BSocSc (social science degree) in Geography and Sociology in 1978. Before her election in 1997, she had been a councillor (from 1984) and leader (1993–95) of the London Borough of Lewisham Council.
Parliamentary career
Moran unsuccessfully contested Carshalton and Wallington in 1992, finishing third [3]. For the 1997 election she was again selected to stand for election for Labour, though on this occasion through an all-women shortlist [4]. This method of selection was subsequently declared illegal in January 1996 as it breached sex discrimination laws.[5] Despite the ruling she remained in place as the candidate for the following year's election. She was elected in 1997.
Following the 2001 election she was promoted to the position of government whip, being attached to the Department of Work and Pensions. She was re-elected for a third term as an MP in the 2005 election, with a reduced majority. There had been significant opposition among Luton's large Muslim population to her support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Her career in government came to an end when she was not reappointed as a whip.
She is a member of the Home Affairs Committee, where she takes an interest in helping female victims of domestic violence and in issues of child protection. Her interest in child protection led her to go to the Internet Governance Forum at Rio de Janeiro in November 2007 and was involved in the launch of the UK Internet Governance Forum.[6] on 6 March 2008.
Expenses controversy
Moran's claims for expenses have drawn press attention. Her claims peaked in the period 2004-05, totalling £168,569, which was the second highest of any MP, and the highest of any to be re-elected.[7] Moran had particularly high spending on stationery and postage and on staff costs. Her total claim was £73,198 higher than fellow Luton MP Kelvin Hopkins [8]
Following a complaint into her taxpayer funded mailings to constituents, it was ruled that although the communications were not unsolicited, they were however "against the spirit of regulations in force for all MPs". Despite the complaint being upheld no action was taken against Moran, though critics such as Richard Stay stated she should apologise and refund the money used to send the mailings.[9] The regulations have since changed and there is now a limit on the amount of postage an MP can send. Stay was also critical of the way Moran interacts with her constituents, suggesting that "her failure to turn up to diary commitments is the stuff of local legend".[10]
She lives in the same street in Luton as Kelvin Hopkins, her fellow Luton MP. In March 2009 it was reported that Hopkins had claimed £8,894 from the second homes allowance in the previous five years, while Moran had claimed nearly ten times as much: £87,206. [11]
On May 8, 2009 the Daily Telegraph made further revelations into her expense claims.[12] Moran spent £22,500 of taxpayers' money treating dry rot at her and her partner's seaside house about 100 miles from her Luton South constituency in Southampton – days after switching her "second home" to his Southampton property. The parliamentary authorities were concerned that the work broke the "spirit" of the rules. However, the MP's claim was not blocked. They said that Ms Moran's expenses appear to be among the most questionable of any MP. Over four years she also spent thousands of pounds on three separate properties, switching between Westminster, Luton and Southampton - renovating each home in turn. While some MPs were getting into hot water over second home claims, Moran was making claims for a second and a third home.
On 10 May 2009 she defended her expenses claim on the BBC Politics Show as follows:
- Moran: "I have to be able to have a proper family life sometimes which I can't do unless I share the costs of the Southampton home with him (her partner, Booker)."
- Andrew Sinclair: "But why should the taxpayer pay for your home in Southampton when clearly you are not using it for work?"
- Moran: "Well, I... I... I...you could argue that I use it to be able to sustain my work. Any MP has to have a proper family life.
She insisted that there was nothing wrong with her three homes arrangement, and she argued that MPs should have third homes away from London or their constituency where they can relax with their partners and this would make them more able MPs.
In subsequent editorial and comment, including Melanie Phillips writing in the Daily Mail, commented:[13]
In a kind of spivs' chorus, they whine in unison that it was all 'within the rules'. But rules can be manipulated for corrupt or otherwise indefensible ends. Luton South MP Margaret Moran claimed £22,500 of taxpayers' money for treating dry rot in a house in Southampton, many miles from her constituency or Westminster. She justifies this on the outrageous grounds that her partner works in Southampton and it is 'her right' to have a family life with him. Her right? Other people cope with this kind of messy situation every day, paying for it out of their own pocket. Why should Ms Moran imagine it is her right to be paid for doing the same thing?
On 12 May, just two days after defending using taxpayers' money on her third home, she agreed to repay it. In a statement she said, "I do understand constituents' anger at the current fees regime, which is why I will be repaying the full amount claimed for my home in Southampton." Also on 12 May The Daily Telegraph claimed that she used £1,104.34 from her Incidental Office Expenses to pay for a fridge and blinds for her Luton house.[14]
On 14 May The Daily Telegraph reported that Moran had billed the taxpayer almost £4,000 to settle an employment tribunal brought by a former member of her staff. The House of Commons fees office agreed that the bill could be paid out of her staffing budget.[15]
The Luton South Labour constituency association have asked Moran to explain her actions. The chairman, Mahmood Hussain, described her conduct as "very questionable".[16]
On 18 May television presenter Esther Rantzen announced that she would stand against Margaret Moran in Luton South as an "anti-sleaze" candidate [17] as Martin Bell did in the Tatton constituency.
On 22 May it was revealed that Moran had claimed travel expenses for driving 26,028 miles even though her constituency is only 32 miles from London. The figure would allow for 407 round trips per year, however she takes the train between London and Luton and has broken the rules if she has claimed for mileage other than between Luton and Westminster.[18]
Moran told The Politics Show on 10 May "It [the expenses controversy] gives the incredibly misleading impression that somehow we've been dodgy, fraudulent or corrupt. Nothing is further from the truth. As I say, I've done everything by the rules."
On 28 May, Moran announced that she would not stand at the forthcoming general election, citing the "...bruising effect upon my friends, my family and my health and it is for this reason that I have decided to stand down."
eQuality Networks Ltd (EQN)
Moran is "patron" of [19] eQuality Networks Limited, a company of which her partner, Mick Booker, is Company Director. eQuality Networks[20] claims to be "committed to investing in the regeneration of communities".
The Financial Times has made allegations of impropriety regarding Moran's involvement with EQN, including using Parliamentary resources to support its operation and to win new business. Although she denied having done so, the FT claims to have seen copies of relevant letters, written by Moran on House of Commons headed paper. [21]
Use of House of Commons Stationery
In the run up to the 2005 general election, Moran sent out a vast amount of unsolicited letters to her constituents. Following a complaint to the Commons authorities, the Assistant Serjeant at Arms Mark Harvey said about one of Moran's communications that while the letter was "a reasonable solicited response", it was against the spirit of regulations in force for all MPs. He went on to say, "Having discussed this with Ms Moran, I'm confident that there will be no repetition in future."[22]
Moran also used House of Commons headed paper to write letters in support of eQuality Networks Ltd, without disclosing that she was acting on behalf of a business that she had a very close personal involvement in. The Financial Times obtained copies of letters written by Moran on House of Commons headed paper supporting EQN funding bids and personal invitations to EQN events sent to businesses again on Commons headed paper.[23]
In 2007 a Spanish Court ruled that she had illegally blocked a right of way on her property in Spain by installing a gate and digging up the path with an excavator. She was ordered to make the area as it was.[24] She again illegally used House of Commons headed paper during the matter.[25] On 14 May The Daily Telegraph showed a photograph of the notepaper bearing the distinctive crowned portcullis of parliament and House of Commons, London. On it a hand written note in Spanish and English said “Please note – this road is private & closed. Please remove your motorcycle from our land. Moran family.”[26]
When these claims appeared in the Mail On Sunday, Moran denied them and contacted media solicitors Carter Ruck who were then shown the note on House of Commons letterhead that the Mail On Sunday had obtained. The case was dropped and Moran then put their £881.25 bill through on her Incidental Office Expenses account, which is meant to cover the running cost of an MP's constituency office.[27][28]
Personal life
In 2009 she became engaged to her long-time partner of 30 years, Mick Booker[29], who lives and works at Southampton University as the Safety Adviser. They have no children. Moran has four homes: in Luton, London, Southampton [30] and with her brother a holiday home in Carataunas, a village in Alpujarra, Spain.[24]
References
- ^ BBC News 28/05/09
- ^ http://www.margaretmoran.org.uk/index.php/about/
- ^ http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/history/0,,-798,00.html
- ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960109/ai_n9634358?tag=content;col1
- ^ "Labour blow as all-women lists outlawed". The Independent. Bnet.com. 9 January 1996.
- ^ UK Internet Governance Forum and Best Practice Challenge launch, Nominet
- ^ Shipman, Tim (2005-10-28). "Grace and favour fury". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/541/MP39s-168000-expenses-bill.1237056.jp
- ^ http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/Trouble-at-the-double-for.929875.jp
- ^ http://www.ldexpress.co.uk/ldexpress-letters/displayarticle.asp?id=342682
- ^ Walker, Kirsty (2009-03-022). "Minister's £60,000 expenses for parents' home: 'Rumbled' Tony McNulty drops claim... then calls for it to be curtailed". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Winnett, Robert (2009-05-08). "MPs' expenses: Four ministers who milked the system". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
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(help) - ^ Phillips, Melanie (2009-05-11). "Our democracy's going down the plughole with the Home Secretary's dirty bathwater". Dail Mail. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5311182/Margaret-Moran-to-pay-back-money-for-shared-home-MPs-expenses.html
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5326514/Margaret-Moran-claimed-4000-legal-fees-for-employment-dispute-MPs-expenses.html
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/16/mps-expenses-donors-party-funding
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1183899/Esther-Rantzen-MP-claimed-22-500-treat-dry-rot-partners-home.html
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1186248/Dry-rot-MP-Margaret-Moran-used-Commons-staff-help-fiances-company.html
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.equalitynetworks.org.uk
- ^ http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/272c40fa-4588-11de-b6c8-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
- ^ http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/Trouble-at-the-double-for.929875.jp
- ^ http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/272c40fa-4588-11de-b6c8-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
- ^ a b http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_10178.shtml
- ^ http://www.andalucia.com/news/cdsn/2006-12-01.htm
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5321064/Margaret-Moran-faces-investigation-over-Commons-notepaper-found-outside-Spanish-home-MPs-expenses.html
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5311182/Margaret-Moran-to-pay-back-money-for-shared-home-MPs-expenses.html
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1183554/MP-claimed-900-legal-costs-dispute-official-notepaper-used-scare-Spanish-neighbours.html
- ^ http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Booker_Mick_650540209.aspx
- ^ http://www.ldexpress.co.uk/ldexpress-news/displayarticle.asp?id=151262
External links
- Official website
- [2] eQuality Networks
- Margaret Moran on TheyWorkForYou.com
- Margaret Moran on The Guardian’s Ask Aristotle
- Margaret Moran on BBC Politics Online
- Women's Parliamentary Radio
News items
- Internet child porn block calls, BBC News Online, 26 October 2005
- Call for 'swift action' over camps, BBC News Online, 30 April, 2003
Audio clips
- WPRadio Discussing the Womenspeak project on Women's Parliamentary Radio