UK opposition lawmakers to repay expenses

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Britain's primary opposition leader banned members of his party Tuesday from filing expense claims for food and household items amid public outrage after lawmakers sought reimbursements for items such as swimming pool construction and tennis court upkeep. Conservative David Cameron said his party's lawmakers would reimburse the taxpayers for expenses deemed inappropriate, such as chandeliers, sleigh beds and manure. The Conservative Party leader said that the public could not abide by the expenditures, even though they were technically allowed under the complicated system for claiming household costs. "Politicians have done things that are unethical and wrong," Cameron said during a news conference. "I am completely appalled." Details of lawmakers' expenses has been published over the past days in Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, creating a steady drip of embarrassing revelations about how lawmakers cash in on the taxpayer.