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	Welcome to my Parliamentary website which runs alongside my political website Ancram.com I hope that you will find this website both useful and thought provoking. I have always believed that politics is about interactive dialogue and I hope that you will make use of this website in that spirit.

12th May 2009
Statement from Michael Ancram MP,

I would like to respond to media coverage regarding my expense claims over the past four years.
 
To my knowledge I have only ever made legitimate claims within the Additional Costs Allowance; that is to meet the costs of keeping a second home in order to allow me to live and work in my constituency.  I have never claimed anything for the purchase of my constituency home.
 
It has come to my attention, however, that there has been one genuine oversight with regard to a maintenance claim, relating to my swimming pool placed two years ago. The amount has been paid back in full.

It is now clear publicly that this allowance is totally discredited and unacceptable and I believe should be scrapped immediately.  Accordingly I have decided personally to make no further claims of any sort against this Allowance.

In addition, some weeks ago I declined to take the rise in my parliamentary salary in the light of the current recession.

I went into politics because I believe passionately in public service.  I put my family through many difficulties in pursuit of this, and gave up a successful legal career for what I believed was right.
 
I have never sought to gain financial advantage within my political life.

My Additional Costs Allowance claims for 04-05 and 07-08 have been published by parliament.  The link is: www.parliament.uk.