Immigration in UK
STRANIERIINITALIA.IT| Expenses row MP Duncan is demoted |
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He was secretly filmed complaining that MPs were being forced to survive "on rations" weeks ago
8th September 2009: Controversial Tory MP Alan Duncan has been stripped of his shadow cabinet post by leader David Cameron after his secretly filmed outburst about MPs' expenses. Mr Cameron will later reveal the successor to Mr Duncan - who was secretly filmed complaining that MPs were being forced to survive "on rations" weeks ago - in his shadow cabinet job.  Mr Duncan is now shadow justice minister with responsibility for prisons after serving eight years in the shadow cabinet - the last nine months as shadow leader of the House.Mr Duncan said it was a "sensible decision", adding: "You have to be realistic about how difficult the expenses issue has been. What matters most is winning the election and David Cameron becoming the Prime Minister. "I don't want to be a brake on that by making a difficult issue more problematic. I am very happy to get stuck into another job." Mr Cameron said: "I'm grateful for Alan's work as shadow leader of the House and I'm sure he will continue to make a valuable contribution as shadow justice minister." The Conservative leader has faced calls to sack the Rutland and Melton MP since last month, when he was covertly filmed by campaigner Heydon Prowse. Asked why people would no longer want to become MPs, Mr Duncan said: "Basically, it's being nationalised, you have to live on rations and are treated like s***." His remarks were particularly embarrassing because, as shadow Commons leader, he led the party on reform of the system of MPs' expenses and allowances. Controversy had surrounded Mr Duncan since the Daily Telegraph revealed he claimed around £4,000 for gardening at his constituency home over three years, including £598 to service his ride-on lawnmower. It is understood that he was forced to pay back more than £5,000 by Mr Cameron.
By The Press Association
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