MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

British MPs expenses scandals forces more resignations

As “unacceptable” claims surface, who will be the next to stand down?

Two more British Members of Parliament have succumbed to intense pressure over their expenses by saying they will not seek re-election. Tory backbencher Julie Kirkbride said the situation had become “unbearable” as she followed husband Andrew MacKay in announcing her departure from parliament at the next general election.

Almost simultaneously, the Labour MP for Luton South Margaret Moran said she would be stepping down, complaining that the furore over her £22,500 dry rot claim had damaged her health.

And later Conservative Christopher Fraser - who claimed more than £1,800 to buy 215 trees and fencing - said he was standing aside in South West Norfolk, claiming the decision had “nothing to do” with the expenses issue.

The pain for all three will be eased by substantial Commons “redundancy” pay-offs - more than £54,000 for Ms Moran, and some £32,000 for Ms Kirkbride and Mr Fraser. The first £30,000 will be tax-free.

Despite previously vowing to fight on, Bromsgrove MP Ms Kirkbride telephoned Conservative leader David Cameron on Friday morning to tell him she was going in the face of “distorted” media coverage which was damaging her family.

“I truly understand people's anger about MPs' expenses, but I have been subject to a barrage of distorted press stories which I have sought to rebut,” she wrote in a resignation letter to Mr Cameron. “As you said yesterday, I gave a good account of myself. But the fact that I am still defending myself and my family two weeks after Andrew stepped down as your adviser has now become an unbearable pressure.”

Meanwhile, Ms Moran released a statement saying: “The understandable public anger over the issue of MP's expenses has caused me great stress and has seriously worsened my existing health problem. It is with great sadness that I have today informed the general secretary of the Labour Party following discussion with my family that I intend to stand down as a MP for Luton South at the next general election.”

The MP had become notorious for designating a property in Southampton as her second home, nearly 100 miles from her constituency, before days later claiming £22,500 to treat dry rot.

PM Gordon Brown had branded the claim “unacceptable” and warned she could be deselected, while TV presenter Esther Rantzen had been threatening to stand as an independent against her.