Tory MP in 'moat' expense claim

Lincolnshire MP Douglas Hogg has denied that he claimed more than £2,000 of taxpayers' cash to have the moat of his country house cleaned.

The Sleaford and North Hykeham MP also claimed £14,000 a year for a housekeeper at his Lincolnshire home, as well as expenses like having his piano tuned, his stable lights fixed and hiring a mole catcher for his garden.

Mr Hogg has become the latest MP to have his expense claims revealed in the Daily Telegraph as part of an ongoing series based on leaked material.

He has denied doing anything wrong, saying his claims were all within the rules, and he did not actually get money for the moat cleaning.

He told the Telegraph: "For most of the working week my wife and I are in London.

"We therefore employ a lady to look after the house in Lincolnshire and for similar reasons we pay for the cost of maintaining the garden."

For more on this story, see Wednesday's Echo.