Ben Chapman will step down as an MP at the next election, but remains defiant over his expenses, as Rob Merrick reports
BELEAGUERED Mersey MP Ben Chapman announced last night that he will quit Westminster at the next election, saying: “The pressure on my family is too great.”
The scandal-hit Wirral South MP – who was paid £15,000 for a “phantom mortgage” – becomes the first Labour MP to be forced out because of the expenses revelations engulfing Parliament. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Post, Mr Chapman also told of his desire not to inflict further “harm” on his local party in the key marginal seat – and continued to declare his innocence.
The 68-year-old said: “It remains my position that I have done nothing wrong. The fees office has apologised for its incorrect advice and no loss to public funds has been established.
“However, there is simply too much pressure on my family. I just decided that the pressure is too great. I may be able to withstand it, but my family should not have to.
“After reflecting on the harm done to my local party, as well as to my family and friends, I decided that I will be standing down at the next election.”
In particular, Mr Chapman said he was deeply upset when some media organisations used pictures of his daughter, asking: “What has my daughter got to do with it?”
Asked if he regretted his actions in any way, he replied: “I’m sorry that press reports have led me to this. I hope people will think I have been a fine MP.”
THE announcement – which spares Gordon Brown the difficult decision of whether to force Mr Chapman out – comes just four days after the scandal made the MP front-page news.
It was revealed that, with the agreement of the Commons fees office, he deliberately over-claimed on a London home loan he had partially paid off. The MP’s monthly mortgage interest payments fell from around £1,900 to below £400, but he continued to receive the full amount in expenses for ten months – an overall pay-out of about £15,000.
Mr Chapman’s files suggested he argued for the higher payments, noting: “By paying off capital, I am forgoing interest and investment opportunities elsewhere”.
