Maria Miller over expenses scandal

Prime Minister David Cameron has continued to back under-fire Minister Maria Miller after discontent reigned among many Conservative backbenchers.

By Calum Archibald

Culture Secretary Maria Miller is at the centre of an expenses scandal after she was initially ordered to repay £40,000 in expenses claimed on a house she later sold for £1,000,000. This was then reduced to £5,000 after a committee of MP's ruling and her 31 second apology, which has been widely criticised.

Boris Johnson refused to back Miller but was sympathetic to the way she has been "hounded", as one senior Conservative backbencher said "I'm surprised she hasn't already left her post."

Other backbenchers have warned that the PM's decision to stick by his Culture Secretary, who has been "slavishly loyal" to Cameron according to one backbencher, could backfire and turn voters against the Conservatives.

The situation has provoked anger among many as another MP is embroiled in an expenses scandal, as once again Cameron's mantra of "We're in this together" seems like an empty promise.

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