Tory Nadine Norries has already become the first MP of the forthcoming term to be embroiled in an expenses scandal. It just had to be her, didn't it? Dorries claimed the money for consultancy services and an annual report in 2007 on her performance as an MP but her former Commons researcher, Peter Hand, is writing to John Lyon, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, questioning whether the claim can be justified. Hand said he never saw the report or worked on it. Dorries claimed a total of more than £40,000 in expenses for services provided by Marketing Management (Midlands), owned by her friend Lynn Elson. They live near each other in the Cotswolds. How very cosy.
Ms Dorries adopts the 'listening with concern' pose
