Sion Simon MP  has blown tomorrow’s Telegraph splash about the fact he paid his sister £40,000 rent out of his parliamentary allowances. Simon has announced he will be paying back twenty thousands pounds of this rent that he claimed after the rule banning renting from family came into force.  He gave the exclusive to his local paper in a severely unsubtle damage limitation move.  Thomas Legg has ruled that all family deals since 2004 are tainted, hence why Bernard Jenkin got a £63,000 bill so it isn’t exactly clear why Simon isn’t paying back the full amount.

This is a move straight out of the political scoundrels and troughers play-book, along with reporting yourself (after you have been caught a la Hain, Harman et al).  It doesn’t really wash, he broke the rules he should pay back the whole £45,000.  incidentally, he was shacked up with Nicola Burdett, Gordon Brown’s SpAd who was in charge of keeping him out of embarrassing situations.  An impossible task…

See also Meet the Man in Charge of Digital Britain, Simon Spoofs Webcameron, and the classic tears of laughter rolling down your face New Statesman article.