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I just watched family movies, says Jeffrey Donaldson
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
enlargeThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the Star Wars trilogy were among the films Jeffrey Donaldson charged to the taxpayer, it has emerged.
But the DUP MP last night apologised for the error and confirmed he has repaid £660 to the House of Commons’ fees office.
Mr Donaldson also said he was wrong to put pay-to-view movies on his parliamentary expenses.
His comments come after the Daily Telegraph said hotel receipts he submitted contained 68 charges relating to films in 2004 and 2005.
The junior minister said he had made a mistake, adding that the claims — which were published in the newspaper at the weekend — had been repaid in full.
“The room service charges were on the hotel bills and I submitted the hotel bills in block to the fees office,” he said.
“What I should have done at the time was to separate out the cost of the room service charges. I recognise that — and that’s why I’ve repaid the room service charges for all of the items that applied.”
The Lagan Valley MP told the BBC he had repaid £660 in total “which covers a range of room service items including food and soft drinks, through to access to email via the internet and pay-for-TV”.
Sources quoted in the Daily Telegraph said the movies watched by Mr Donaldson were in the highest price category.
However, the DUP man firmly denied any of the films he viewed were adult or pornographic.
“I did not at any time watch a movie that was adult in nature,” he said.
“The films that I would’ve watched on pay TV would’ve been films that would’ve been in the cinema, films that were on release.”
He also said he used the hotel movie service for “security” reasons.
“Unfortunately because of my security situation at the time, my family and I can’t go out into public places like that and it’s why I took the opportunity to watch some of the films on release in the hotel.”
He added: “At night when you come home from a hard day’s work at the office as it were it’s nice to relax and watch a film on the television and that’s really all this was.”
Referring to his viewing material, Mr Donaldson said the films were recent box office smashes.
“We would have had, for example, the Star Wars trilogy...the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe...(they) would have been some of the films that would’ve been on release at that time,” he added.
Apologising to his constituents the DUP MLA said that everyone was “fallible”.
“We make mistakes, we get things wrong, and on this occasion I got it wrong,” he said. ”I recognise that and that’s why I’ve repaid them [the charges].”
First Minister Peter Robinson, who was yesterday (MON) in Dublin on official business, said he stood by his party colleague.
“Mr Donaldson has been asked to pay back any expenses which have not been properly incurred and I understand that he intends to do so,” he said.
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Comments
44 Comments
I do not care what Jeffrey Donaldson watches on TV in the privacy of his hotel room when he is away from Westminister in the evening. What I do care about is the fact that he claims expenses from my taxes for his leisure activities. This is completely unacceptable and an abuse of privelege. Expenses should only be available for total necessities when away from home i.e. travel,basic food and shelter.
Posted by Anne Allen | 14.07.09, 23:53 GMT
Yes Mr Donaldson, why do you watch, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Ryan must know, as part of his theses on 'Daft questions to ask Politicians'. Never let it be said, the grass grows under Ryans feet.
Posted by John Henderson | 14.07.09, 10:29 GMT
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was released *in the cinema* on December 8 2005 according to IMDb. These claims were for 2004-2005. Hotels don't show movies that have just been released in the cinema. Can Mr Donaldson please explain this? And he said that he didn't go to the cinema due to security reasons. Please explain Jeffers.
Posted by Ryan | 10.07.09, 04:56 GMT
The man has turned into a real lardhead...he'd be better off saving the money and going for a jog instead of lying about watching movies!!!
Posted by Patrick | 09.07.09, 20:29 GMT
Liam what's it got to do with you?
Posted by maiL | 08.07.09, 17:48 GMT
It's the hair cuts that make me distrust the dup
Posted by ron54 | 08.07.09, 17:23 GMT
On his own in a hotel and he picks the lion the witch and the wardrobe , I rest my case m'lord
Posted by ron54 | 08.07.09, 17:18 GMT
USA what has it got to do with you?
Posted by Liam | 08.07.09, 14:16 GMT
Make Jacqui Smith's hubby's activities look positively presbyterian!
Posted by iain | 08.07.09, 12:00 GMT
what you watched jeffrey is nobodys concern,,who paid for it is ,,is there a intelligence test to get into stormont forget about the rules ,,they were made by people for their own interests,,,today mr campbell will be in front of a committee in london telling members that his party backs reforms on expenses,,,no choice,,,greed is cross party,,,but the dup have been the biggest offenders by far,,anyone who expects to live of their expenses and not their wages is morally bankrupt ,,,,greed,,,,,,
Posted by HG | 08.07.09, 08:55 GMT
Now let me see Our Geoffrey . uses the alleged security off his family for claiming the films
Have you never done something that you regretted .
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone
Guess what no stones were fired
Posted by kevin taylor | 08.07.09, 05:57 GMT
660 quid - At a fiver a throw that's 132 movies in 2 years. He must have had plenty of time to watch them. Let's get the titles now to see exactly what he was using our tax to watch.
Posted by Berger | 08.07.09, 05:31 GMT
All the movies named were fiction based in fantasy lands, just where our MP's reside
Posted by john | 08.07.09, 00:14 GMT
Whether you were watching family movies or whatever, the fact that you made the taxpayer pay for YOUR entertainment is down right disgraceful.
Posted by Stuart | 07.07.09, 23:22 GMT
Annoyed - "do they think we're all stipid"
88,000+ voting for the DUP in the European election still seem to be!
Posted by Not DUPed | 07.07.09, 22:49 GMT
Annoyed - "do they think we're all stupid"
88,000+ voting for the DUP in the European election still seem to be!
Posted by Not DUPed | 07.07.09, 22:48 GMT
Will Peter Robinson borrow Iris's Mont Blanc and write out mass resignation letters for the DUP MPs? If I recall correctly Jeffrey claimed that he had nothing to hide when the Daily Telegraph broke news over the curtains story. One can only wonder what other "mistakes" little Jeffrey and his pals have made. As to his claim that he got it wrong on this occasion - I contend that he simply got caught. - he is now a damaged man.
Posted by Stephen E | 07.07.09, 21:47 GMT
The problem is to do with how their expenses are paid. If they were paid at a per diem rate, a rate for the day, they could spend it on what they liked. The European Commission pays this way. So if you stay in too expensive an hotel, you have to cough up the difference yourself. Or you could stay in a cheap hotel and watch as many films as you like.
The problem here is that you can only charge up for certain items, thats why the problem has occured. presumably entertainment isn't chargeable.
Posted by Michael Dubitante | 07.07.09, 21:08 GMT
Come on Jeffrey who are you kidding! Who pays £15 for a standard movie!
If I were the editor of a low brow Sunday newspaper I would be bribing every bell hop, concierge and hotel manager for more details.
It's about time he got he got knocked down a peg or two.
Posted by James | 07.07.09, 19:15 GMT
One more reason not to vote for the DUP.
Posted by Jake | 07.07.09, 18:14 GMT
44 Comments