Lancaster MP says expenses claim story was 'work of fiction'

The MP for Lancaster has described allegations of faulty expense claims as a 'work of fiction' after a watchdog said they would not be investigating her.
Cat Smith speaking in Parliamant.Cat Smith speaking in Parliamant.
Cat Smith speaking in Parliamant.

Cat Smith spoke out after the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) said they would not be following up a complaint against her.

The Daily Express printed an article in January after Ms Smith was reported to IPSA over claims that she should have declared her husband Ben Soffa as a member of her staff.

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A complaint was also made about two claims for office flooring made by Ms Smith on the same date and an allegation that the Labour MP claimed expenses for travel to a constituency appointment on June 11 2016, when she was in Blackpool attending a Gay Pride event.

But a spokesman for IPSA said: “After receiving the complaint the Compliance Officer for IPSA determined that there was no case for investigation.”

Ms Smith said: “After an article, which is best described as a work of fiction, was published by the Daily Express the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority have confirmed there was no truth in it.”