Eighty MPs challenge auditor's expenses rulings

Eighty MPs are challenging the results of the review process set up to ensure the repayment of expense claims allowed in the past but now deemed questionable, it was revealed today.

The figure, which is higher than expected, illustrates the extent to which the Commons auditor, Sir Thomas Legg, has infuriated MPs by effectively imposing retrospective rules that have led to some members being asked to repay tens of thousands of pounds.

Sir Paul Kennedy, a former appeal court judge, will consider the appeals and report early next year, although he will only consider submissions made in writing and he will not be able to overturn the broad principles established by Legg.

Legg, a former civil servant who was appointed to audit claims in the wake of the expenses scandal, angered many MPs because his review went much further than expected. It has reportedly resulted in around 250 MPs being asked to repay money, partly because Legg imposed retrospective rules declaring that some claims that had been allowed at the time were now unacceptable.

On Tuesday Legg submitted a 168-page report to the Commons members' estimate committee recommending how much individual MPs should repay. Many MPs have already complied with Legg's demands, but today – after the deadline passed for MPs wanting to appeal – the Commons authorities revealed that 80 MPs are challenging Legg's findings.

One senior MP said that Legg had antagonised MPs because some of his "final demand" letters asked for repayments without giving full reasons.

"I'm staggered that Legg has asked people to give money without providing comprehensive reasons. A lot of people are really pissed off that their reputation is being tarnished and that they are being put through some extraordinary financial discomfort on the basis of one sentence," the MP said.

The Legg review has cost between £1m and £1.25m. It is thought that the amount being repaid by MPs will cover most of this cost, but there is unlikely to be a net saving to the taxpayer.

Among those who have declared publicly that they are appealing are:

Bernard Jenkin, a Tory asked to repay £63,250

Jeremy Browne, a Liberal Democrat asked to repay almost £18,000 in mortgage interest

Frank Field, the Labour former minister ordered to repay around £7,000 in gardening and household bills

Frank Cook, a Labour MP asked to repay £600 for a fridge

Patrick Hall, a Labour MP asked to repay £260 in mortgage interest payments, and

Roger Gale, a Tory Mp who said that he also was appealing against a demand from Legg relating to £2,100 claimed for mobile phone calls and £400 claimed for rent.

Gale claimed that Legg had wrongly accused him of claiming for 13 months' rent for last year. "I told him the situation and he is still knowingly releasing false information," Gale said.

"I do not view this as an issue about money. It is about my financial probity. I am not prepared to have my reputation traduced ... on the back of factual errors. Am I angry? Yes, I am."

Legg said decided to impose retrospective caps of £2,000 a year for cleaning and £1,000 on gardening. He also said that claims involving MPs paying rent to a close relative were "tainted" and that MPs who bought goods unnecessarily would be asked to repay money.

The rule about relatives explains why Jenkin, the MP for Essex North, has been asked to repay so much. He used his expenses to rent a property owned by his sister-in-law.

Jenkin said today this arrangement was within the rules until 2006 and explicitly authorised by Commons officials. "I am lodging an appeal. There is no question being raised by Sir Thomas about my integrity and honesty. I will pay back whatever is finally decided," he said.