Who is Caroline Spelman?
Spelman is a prominent member of the Conservative frontbench team and MP for Meriden in the West Midlands. Formerly party chair, she was moved last month to the post of shadow communities and local government secretary. What is she under investigation for? Spelman allegedly broke the rules on MPs’ expenses by paying her nanny, Tina Haynes, out of her parliamentary allowances between 1997 and 1998. Spelman’s secretary, Sally Hammond, reportedly complained to the Conservative party leadership nine years ago that Spelman was misusing her parliamentary allowances and that Haynes was doing little or no secretarial work. What are the rules? Rules on MPs’ expenses say that any expenditure must be incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of parliamentary duties and that MPs cannot claim for expenditure that is personal. What has Spelman said? Spelman has said she believed the arrangement with Haynes was entirely within the rules. She said Haynes worked outside school hou
