英伦广角 2009-05-10 “报销门”震动英国

Day two of the revelations taken from leaked documents and once again Labour ministers are in the   firing line.

According to the Telegraph, the Labour MP for Stevenage, Barbara Follett claimed 25,000 pounds over four years for security here at her second home in London, saying she felt unsafe after being mugged and stalked. The paper also reveals that Labour MP Margret Moran claimed 22,500 pounds to treat dry rot at a seaside house 100 miles from her constituency, but designated as her second home.

 

The Home Affairs Select Committee Chair Keith Vaz claimed 75,000 pounds on a central London flat despite owning another house just 12 miles from Westminster. And the Care Minister Phil Hope spent 37,000 tax pounds in four years on kitting out a flat as well as 120 pounds on a barbecue. All of these are Labour MPs, but other parties are anxiously awaiting fresh revelations.

"This is not a party political issue in many ways, I think all MPs of all parties may be slightly worried about what's gonna come out over the weekend. There are certainly MPs in each of the main parties who probably have something to hide, something that they are embarrassed about."

Serious allegations are also being made against Immigration Minister Phil Woolas.

"I think the reporters misunderstood the system. The allegations against me include items on receipts that weren't claimed for. They were on a food receipt from a supermarket. So I can see that it's a good fun story but it doesn't stand up to investigation¹."

The police have been asked by the House of Commons authorities to investigate how the Telegraph got hold of the documents.

"I think most of the public will be very interested in reading all about this. They know they want the system changed. They certainly don't want the police scurrying² around Westminster, trying to find somebody to blame for releasing what should have been in the public domain³ anyway."

All of the expenses revealed today were approved by the Commons authorities, all were deemed to be within the rules. But the fact that some MPs have clearly milked a system that had become rotten has even further reduced trust in politics and politicians.

Glen O’Glaza Sky News Westminster.
 

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 scurrying   

v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• We could hear the mice scurrying about in the walls. 我们能听见老鼠在墙里乱跑。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We were scurrying about until the last minute before the party. 聚会开始前我们一直不停地忙忙碌碌。 来自辞典例句

3 domain   

n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围

参考例句：

• This information should be in the public domain.这一消息应该为公众所知。
• This question comes into the domain of philosophy.这一问题属于哲学范畴。