As one of Conway's Bexley constituents, i would like to contrast his offsprings' experience of University life with mine. Both my children supported themselves through University working at weekends and evenings in local stores, meeting ordinary people. They commuted to a local University to keep costs down.
Now they not only lose part of their income to pay off large student loans, they are also supporting Mr C's pampered brat through their taxes.
When my daughter decides to start a family she will not have the luxury of a local Maternity Hospital. This facility and A&E at Queen Mary's ,Sidcup are threatened under proposed cuts.
Our local MP is not available to represent his constituents in Parliament, effectively we have been disenfrancised.
However I am sure the only thing worrying Mr C. is his political future.
By the way is it ethical to send a birthday card to your teenage constituents on their eighteenth birthday?
Are there any honest men in parliament?

Liz, Welling

elizabeth smyth, welling, Kent

This man must face a Police investigation for his fraudulent actions.

Dave, Blackpool, England

How can the fraudulant aqcuisition of possibly over £50k be justified with a penlty of suspension form work for ten days and have to pay back not even a quarter of what he took...

he should pay just as the rest of mere mortals would pay for such devious crimes...

pay back every penny and jail term is a must!

Its just outrageous, he's stealing my money! I want it back...

muhammad, manchester, UK

He was born and brought up in the North East of England and he's spent his whole life living on the public payroll in local and central government. Now he's embroiled in a financial scandal. Surely this man really belongs heart and soul in the Labour Party?

Gordon Alexander, Frome, UK

Those for the motion to remove Derek "diddler" Conway from Parliament: 47

Those against: 0

It's quiet clear of the strength of feeling towards this MP and in particular his younger son, who has shown such brilliance in perfecting the art of looking busy whilst being nothing of the sort. I hope he has enjoyed his state funded education.

Cameron. Remember we are the only people that can put you in power, so listen carefully when we speak. This nonsence will not be tolerated by reasonable people.

Ian, Brighton, The state formerly known as the UK.

This man should be sacked then prosecuted as he has been caught thieving, in any other walk of life his feet wouldn’t touch the ground and as for apologising to his family well they have done quite nicely out of his ill gotten gains the man is a common thief and should be treated so.
I wonder how many more have their fingers in our till?

Dave Pittam, Droitwich, Worcs

Yesterday, to my surprise
My cat scratched out my baby's eyes.
I said 'You naughty, wicked cat,
You'll have no milk today for that'.

Wish I knew who wrote that. Give them a medal.

Clive, Carmarthen, Wales

If this is true, he should be made to return all the money, and be charged by the police with deception. This is not another "MISTAKE" by a politician.

dave wilson, Bromley, kent

No surprise is it really??? politicians are a bad lot, with the conservatives being the worst of a bad bunch, they tread all over the working class at every chance they get and have done for god knows how long..... i wasnt surprised when i heard about this one little bit.....

Damien Toal, Wheaton Aston,

I agree with much that has been said, it seems people go into politics as a well paid career, with obvious benefits, rather than to do some good for the country and their fellow men. Perhaps the threat of losing their more than generous pensions if caught out like this would bring them into line.

Rose, Worcester, uk

Here we go again. Anyone else in the House of Commons willing to hold their hands up?

Rodney Barker, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire UK

Sadly Derek Conway is just another example of the Professional Politician. Councillor at 21 and MP at 30. Never had any record of achievement in the real world. These politicians, and there are hundreds of them in Parliament, are only interested in lining their pockets. They believe that we owe them a living.

Graham Monkhouse, Penrith, England

Conway fellow makes out he has only committed an "oversight". Yet he made a conscious decision to pay his son this money while knowing the lad was going to be at university. That's a sin of commission not omission.

Stephen Shorter, Whitby, UK

Yet another example of an MP exploiting weak rules that are not enforced.
No doubt many more MPs on both sides are doing something similar.
With such role models is it to be wondered that ordinary people do not bother to vote, that tax evasion and benefit fraud are considered as the norm, that Government in general is seen as a perverse nuisance ...?
To clear out the whole lot of them and replace them with ordinary decent people is the only solution...

Jon, Malaga, Spain

The solution is simple: MPs should simply be forbidden from employing ANY family members.

Then there'd be none of of this psuedo apologising. Moreover, any MP caught taking advantage of taxpayers' money should automatically be deselected by his constituency party. Thus, at a stroke each party would demonstrate its seriousness on this cynical behavious. (One doubts this is an isolated case.)

It is, for sure, long overdue that politicians learn respect for where all the money comes from and how it is earned.

Perhaps they should all be set an essay on 'Morality and Integrity In Public Life'. Now that would be a collection of gems!

GFS, London,

"....very supportive to me and my family throughout a very difficult period.”
Yes, my heart goes out to him and other criminals who "have a hard time" after they get caught.

Colin Pearse, London, London

one way or another i think all m.ps are doing something akin to what this low life has been doing..........paying their wive,s to be secretaries.yeh really,claiming tens if not 100,s thousands postage.yeh really,their salaries might show 60k but the real figure is probably 150k minimum.over paid load of grown up kids ya ya ya ya pass me another gin and tonic charles..........
anyway with all the countrie,s powers being devolved to europe what do we need this bunch of dodgy dealers for why dont they get sent out to do a proper days work?

joe, london,

The Standards and Privileges committee seems to have double standards. The husband and wife team, Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper (Government Ministers) are allegedly claiming their second home allowance for their London residence, where they normally reside and send their kids to school. This apparently is in excess of £50000 per annum. Their primary home where they visit occasionally is in yorkshire. However, this wide interpretation of the rules on second homes allowances is ok - apparently. Hmmmmm

Richie, Wales, UK

Reputation. What reputation ? Our Politicians are deluded if they think we don't know what they have become. Our democracy has failed as MP's jump to the state's tune safeguarding their future incomes. Conway obviously dosn't trust any one else to rotate his ill gotton gains. Did his sons give him a kick back I wonder?? Has any one investigated this.

Mark , Gateshead, UK

Seeing things like this story explains why people don't vote and have this opinion of Politicians.

However im sure there will be a wider investigation as the Standards Committee found things that they could not investigate under their remit, with a new complaint pending we will have to wait and see.

Tom, London,

"at worst, it was a serious diversion of public funds"....why is it that the committee can't just say it like it is. this is theft, plain and simple.

i wonder how many MPs are asking their children to produce three years worth of research papers this morning.

michael, london,

My partner has been to three tribunals called by the DWP accusing her of fraud in claiming benefits which they granted to her. They have all gone in her favour and she now has to face another one. Why are they not pursuing Freddie Conway as he must have known it was dishonest what he and his family were doing. I relly do hope all concerned are takento court and treated like the common criminals that they are. If they were ordinary working class people(yes we do exist) they would be all over the newspapers and up in court.

Kevin Harrison, Runcorn, UK

This is no less than theft.He has to go.His sons too involved,chips off the same block.

A RAHMAN, BIRMINGHAM,

“no judgment from any quarter could be more harsh than that which I apply to myself. " Think again Mr Conway.

bob, derby,

In the private industry he would have been sacked and a possible police charge of theft .
In my view this should be happening now and Cameron should act accordingly

John, Worcester,

If he worked for anyone else in the UK he would be sacked immediately, people that do this sort of thing just undermine the confidence of the British public. He needs to go NOW!

JB, Shropshire, UK

There is no other way to describe this than by what it is: Corruption.

A ten-day suspension is far too weak - the guy should lose his job over this. Also, 13k is too minimal a penalty for the 95k which has effectively been stolen.

Why don't we make an example of this fraudster, and scare some other MPs in the process.

Sharon, London, UK

It would appear a crime has been committed. Therefore the MP should be fired and prosecuted like anyone else would be.

Simon Scott, Preston, UK

I concur with all the views expressed here! As recent cases have shown political corruption in this country is widespread and no sitting MP's seem to have the willingness to stamp it out.

"of risking the reputation of all MPs" - kind of assumes they have a good reputation in the first place!

Sandy, Nottingham,

Anthony, Like your style!

Bill, Glasgow, scotland

I used to work for an MP at the Commons - in their defence this abuse is not 'widespread' or doing down our 'once great nation' (?) as some of those commenting seem to be hysterically saying (without any evidence). MPs get a relatively small amount of money from which they have to pay several members of staff, rent an office, computer equipment etc.

What SHOULD be looked at are MPs who employ family members, which is the problem in this case. Again though, it is important not to judge that the employee is doing no work just because they are a spouse or are related - some may well work hard. But it should be proven that they are actually doing work - or not as in this case! - and that the pay is commensurate to their role and to what other staff are being paid.

Gilly, London,

i recently sent this to my MP who informs me that the committee responsible dodge the issue of Executive accountability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This South African Minister, should have resigned a couple of months ago.

He may be innocent,, but has certainly managed to demonstrate that accountability iIs not foremost in the executive mind. This mindset is spreading from Government through the Civil service and even the police. It is shocking when the police plead ignorance as an excuse for breaking the law.
These same second-class individuals, will be indignant when the lower orders imitate the bad habits of their betters, and plead forgetfulness and ignorance for a failure in duty.
Yesterday I saw a programme, which demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the law enforcement body supposed to control the takeover of the Security industry by the Criminal businessman. The official deadpan rejection of responsibility demonstrated

H I Manning, Paignton , uk

Oh dear, oh dear, one of Mr Cameron's men found with his hand in the till. From the report it seems he stole, I repeat stole like a thief in the night, some £50,000 from the public purse, and its possible there's more to come.

Why was it not reported to the police? Is stealing from the public purse it now less of an offence than the late declaration of donations

Where was Mr Caneron during the long investigation? Did he not know the outcome of it ,when, he and his foot soldiers were on the television at the weekend pontificating about Mr Johnson and the Labour Party. Mr Cameron must now insist that all Conservative MP's open their books, lets us see how many more are up to the same game.

Anthony J, Alton, UK

This sort of conduct explains why the Tories were not showing much joy when Hain was caught. They were scared of making too much political capital of it because disclosures like this were always simmering beneath the surface.
We are entitled to ask "Who can we trust at Westminster? Who is next in the frame?"
If Conway was my MP I would be harrassing him daily until he did the decent thing and resigned and I would force him to give the balance of the monies he has conned out of the taxpayer to charity. The fraction he has had to repay illustrates the fact that MPs of all parties look after themselves first and foremost. At the end of the day his family are still in profit.
He will probably call this "A result!"

Ally, Motherwell, Scotland

He's been caught with his fingers in the till - that is stealing.
He spirited away some £50,000. Was found out. And then is paying £13,000 back? Is that justice. Sack the man and then charge him with defrauding the taxpayer. M.P. are more and more being perceived as money grubbing blood suckers.

Jan, Brighton, East Sussex

MP's allowances are too generous if they can be spent in this way, so it's time for a detailed audit on how each and every one of our MPs is getting through their 'Allowance',

Those with nothing to hide will have nothing to fear.

David, Dorset,

Not only should the police be involved as they would in any other case of corruption but why is Mr Conway only being asked to repay £13,000. Why is he allowed to pocket £37,000? Only a politician could get away with this sort of behaviour.

Maria, London, UK

The whole of Government is truly rotten to the core. The country is going to the dogs and those in charge really do not give a flying fig to anything or anyone but themselves.

It really is time for a change, but not just a change of party but a real change of Government, even a military coup would be much better answer than what Britain has now. But whatever happens it needs to happen quickly before Britain really does sink under the weight of its own sewage.

Murphy, London,

Why is he only required to pay back £13,000? Are the family being allowed to keep the rest of their ill gotten gains?

Cameron has to sack this man without delay.

Mike, Church Stretton, Shropshire

Are the polarities of right and wrong really so incredibly difficult for MPs to see or perhaps this is a basic requireement of the job of eternal gravy sucking leech. What the hell is right about paying a son or daughter out of ordinary peoples taxes for receiving an education most ordinary young people now have to pay/go into huge amounts of debt for. Then to say Im very sorry and judge myself harshly. What for? (getting caught?) or for having not realising how wrong it was to be paying out of public funds for the younger son to be educated, the older son in a similar vein and his wife for doing what? No doubt if you had a health problem requiring medical treatment in the family mixed sex NHS wards would be out of the question and we would fund this as well for you.

pat, chatham, uk

The Rt. Hon. Member has foolishly risked the reputation of MP's by demonstrating his inability to get away with. The reputation of the house may only be recovered if, like so many MP's, he now proves his worth by escaping punishment.

anthony, London, UK

Once again disgraceful conduct in what should be a house of honour, the gravy train rolls on. The whole house should be subjected to an independant enquiry and get rid of the rot that is dispoiling our once great nation. Think what the terrorists can do with this sort of defamity in applying it to their cause for change, the sad thing is he is not sorry for doing it , just getting caught, should be flogged.
Disgustedly yours
T Walton

Timothy Walton, Bangkok, Thailand

Who will act to stamp out this blatant and widespread fraud and abuse of privileges that is now commonplace in Parliament?

The Augean stables of Westminster need cleaning. In the absence of a modern Hercules perhaps we may uncover a modern Cromwell.

Victor Southern, Swanley, Kent

Cameron must surely sack him as an MP. How can he ever be taken seriously again?

Corruption by any other name is still corruption - where are the police?

David, St Albans, UK

Make a mistake in the private sector and you're for the high jump, however, any job related to the public purse including politicians and it appears you can do what you like without reproach. Derek Conway should be sacked, his leader should make a statement and every penny should be returned to us the tax payer. Don't hold your breath, none of the above will happen, Conway and his family will still be laughing all the way to the bank and we ask why doesn't the youth of today have any respect or interest in politics? Here is the answer.

steve lucas, appleby,

If someone fiddled their expenses like this anywhere else but Westminster, they'd at least be sacked and face a police enquiry. Why is it different for MPs?

David, Ely,

As the old saying has it, "Trusting is fine, checking is better". Why are there not strciter controls and checks on these money-grabbing would-be politicians?

cindy stjohn, london, england

Just another moneygrubber out for what he can get. What's new? Public service? They just think of themselves and how they can line their own pockets. It leaves a very bad taste in the mouth. The funny thing is, they're so busy lining their own pockets and wringing their greedy little hands with glee, that common sense flies out the window. The thought of money for nothing clouds their judgement.

Vanda Bubear, Llandrindod Wells, Wales

The reputation of MPs has been preserved. I think less of them all the time.

Frederick, London, UK

What a great example to set for the rest of the country. And we wonder why crime is so rife. It seems that this sort of behavior is now the norm:

"and it recommended that he be suspended for ten days and repay up to £13,000."

Thats justice??

Billy Bop, London, UK

This is theft. Anyone else would have been sacked, in a police cell and then hauled before a judge. The PM offers us only rhetoric when he says he wants to clean up politics. These parasitic people prosper because of a lack of political backbone. If I was politician I would start to rip off the taxpayers, because if I was caught all I have to say is "I feel soooo terrible for the anguish I have caused to family and constituants" NOT.

Mark, Yorkshire, England

benefit fraud... no ifs, not buts... he should be sent to jail

Joe Public, London,

One might expect "Honourable Members" to be outraged that a fellow member has brought the house once again into disrepute. Not a bit off it ! They are seen nodding sympathetically at the discomfort of the member explaining how he made a mistake. I can only assume that they are all corrupt. It is time for a complete overhaul of parliament, we must discourage the present attitude that they are above the law. I would instigate a thorough investigation of ALL MPs serving and retired.

William, Southampton, UK

Like peter hain he should resign, this is the only way to stop corruption in public life, and restore public confidence which is at a low.

c hooks, lincoln,

If this had been an ordinary member of the public they would have been arrested and interviewed regarding an offence of fraud.

B White, Vancouver, Canada

Why did it take 3 years before anyone took notice? Or more if you consider what was paid to the brother previously.

S Donohue, Houston, Texas

I am glad he is contrite and am assured that he will never do this again so lets thank him for his honesty and leave it at that.

Why do we continue to believe that our MPs are anything but greedy, thieving individuals who have no honor or honesty any more.

So many people distrust all MPs now and that is reflected in the elections where the majority know do not think it makes any difference to vote.

Clean up the game as you promised, sack ALL MP's that do not follow the rules. In the workplace any theft whether intentional or not is an immediate sacking offence and this should be the same for the MPs.

joe, Edinburgh, Scotland