Constituents react to expenses row

As several MPs face investigation or disciplinary action over their expenses claims, BBC correspondents have been surveying the mood in constituencies around the UK.

BURY NORTH, GREATER MANCHESTER - DAVID CHAYTOR

Residents are hopping mad about the allegations surrounding MP David Chaytor, while local Labour party members feel shocked and betrayed, says the BBC's Nick Ravenscroft.

The Daily Telegraph says Mr Chaytor claimed £13,000 for the London flat

The statue of possibly Bury's most famous son stands in the centre of this market town. Sir Robert Peel, who went on to become prime minister, was born here in 1788.

Today he might have shuddered if he had been able to hear the angry voices of constituents in the square he gazes down upon.

"We'd be in the crown court for something like that," said Dave Robinson, dodging a downpour of rain.

"They're hypocrites. If you did that in any other workplace you'd be fired," said Rob Slater, drinking in the Sir Robert Peel pub, next to the statue.

A statue of Sir Robert Peel stands in the centre of the market town

Members of the local Labour party are also fuming.

"I'm very, very angry," said Margaret Fulham.

"I feel it's a total betrayal of all the values that the Labour party and everything that Labour Party should - and still does - stand for on the ground."

Mr Chaytor has been suspended by the Parliamentary Labour Party amid allegations he claimed for a mortgage that had been paid off.

Jane Lewis, another local Labour party member, said she was shocked and felt let down.

"I think obviously we need to find out from him the full story, but if what is in the Telegraph is true, I just don't see how it can be defended," she said.

Local Labour party members say they feel 'betrayed'

Mr Chaytor has referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and promised to repay the money.

But Ms Lewis admitted she was concerned the revelations might affect any future local elections in Bury North. The Labour party has held the seat since 1997.

"The local activists are all true party members, you know, and we believe in the values of the Labour party, so those will hold firm, but obviously we need to convince constituents of that," she said.

Sir Robert Peel was responsible for the introduction of the first disciplined police force for Greater London. The term "bobbies" is taken from his first name.

With Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service considering whether any criminal charges should be brought, it looks like the modern day descendants of those first bobbies may be asking several MPs one or two searching questions in the coming weeks.

DEWSBURY, WEST YORKSHIRE - SHAHID MALIK

Although it is tipping it down with rain in this West Yorkshire hill town, the weather doesn't really reflect the mood of Shahid Malik's constituents, says the BBC's Nick Ravenscroft.

A spell of thunder and lightning would be more appropriate. They are furious.

Mr Malik stepped down as a minister pending an inquiry into his claims

"Stealing," said one man pushing a baby in a pram.

He is out of work and struggling to feed a growing family.

Trade at Bailey's Cafe was brisk this lunchtime as people scurried in to escape the rain.

Patricia Barber, one of the waitresses, summed up the mood of many.

"Sack them all and start again," she said as she ferried out steaming plates of corned beef hash.

Nearby Patricia Stogdale was paying for her coffee.

"It's disgusting because of the way normal people are struggling at the moment," she said.

"They tell people they should tighten their belts because of the recession... and now look at them!"

One of the cooks, Daisy Ackroyd, was having a break.

"It's simple," she said. "Make them pay it back."

But in an e-mail to the BBC News website, constituent Tom Earnshaw said that his MP had "worked within the rules and, to me, has done nothing wrong".

Reaction to Labour MP Shahid Malik's expenses claims

"I cannot understand why so many people are angry because of this, I'd like to see them cope with the workload he has," he wrote.

But Rachael Hardiman disagreed: "He has claimed the maximum amount and I find that morally shocking. The constituency he represents in parts is extremely deprived."

Her e-mail said: "Shahid Malik is and always has been a career politician - he has no depth of character or understanding.

"He does not care about Dewsbury at all despite insisting he does."

Rafi Iqbal e-mailed to say: "I am aghast at what he has done. It's not a question of what the rules were.

"If he and others cannot and did not see what they were doing as morally wrong, then it's time to move aside."

BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE - ANDREW MACKAY

If Andrew MacKay was nervous about meeting his constituents in Bracknell today, then he was not showing it, reports the BBC's Ben Wright.

I believe I have the confidence of the great majority of people in the Bracknell constituency Andrew MacKay MP

But Mr MacKay's constituents seemed unforgiving of him and his colleagues.

"I wouldn't trust them," said one woman. "Not just him, all the other MPs."

One man told BBC News: "I want to know why the police aren't round there now questioning him on these issues.

"Also, I now think that MPs seem to think they are above the law."

But another local man said he did not blame his MP, after it emerged that Mr MacKay and his fellow MP wife both claimed second home allowances on two separate properties.

"He has only done what everyone else has done, so I don't blame him for that.

"And I'm sure he was encouraged to do that," the man said.

"I do hope we do get him back in - 100%."

Mr MacKay says he wants to win here again too, and is getting strong support.

He told BBC News: "I believe I have the confidence of the great majority of people in the Bracknell constituency.

"I will hopefully seek re-election and they can make the final decision at the ballot box, which is what democracy is all about."

People in Bracknell give their views on MP Andrew Mackay's expense claims

But constituent Rachel Christie, in an e-mail to the BBC News website, said she hoped the MP was "booted from Bracknell as a resident and as our MP and told never to come back".

She said she was "appalled" by Mr MacKay's actions, "considering the fact that many, many people here have no jobs and no homes of their own, yet it is OK for his wife and himself to claim two extra homes".

Another constituent, by e-mail, said: "It is obvious that he and his wife have been milking the system for some time."

But Bracknell resident Dean, by e-mail, directed blame at the House of Commons fees office: "From what I'm seeing, it's almost as if the fees office encouraged members to claim as much as they could - it's disgusting."

He maintained that Mr MacKay was a "good MP".

"I have had interaction with Mr MacKay a number of years ago regarding a national political issue and found him to be very supportive," he wrote.

SCUNTHORPE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE - ELLIOT MORLEY

Not far from Elliot Morley's constituency home in Winterton, Stuart Maw is stacking boxes of tomatoes in his newly-launched fruit and veg shop, reports the BBC's Paul Murphy.

Mr Morley claimed for a mortgage that was already paid off

The town is just a few miles from the beleaguered Scunthorpe steel works.

At the moment there is not much spare cash here and Stuart has struggled to make the business work.

So the news that his local MP has become embroiled in a £16,000 mortgage scandal has angered him.

There is also a sense of betrayal; Mr Maw was one of the Labour Party activists who helped Elliot Morley get elected more than 20 years ago, and has watched in disbelief at the allegations being made against his former ally.

"I feel very angry and bitter.

"All I see around me is a system full of corruption and sleaze," he said.

"I think the time has come for honesty in politics."

Sheltering from a downpour, a group of church volunteers are drinking tea in Winterton's community centre.

People in Elliot Morley's constituency react to his expenses revelations

They are in a more forgiving mood than many around here.

To them Elliot Morley remains a hard-working local MP who cares deeply about his constituents; helping them to find housing, offering them lifts on rainy winter nights.

"He is a good bloke," said one woman. "He has done quite a bit for Winterton."

But the voices of forgiveness are few and scattered. Most here are deeply hurt - they thought their man was above all the political scandal; he'd been solid and dependable for years.

The Scunthorpe MP has not been seen in Winterton since the scandal broke and is rumoured to have gone to his holiday home in France.

There are plenty of constituents who would be happy for him to remain there.

ASHFIELD, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE - GEOFF HOON

The hottest topic in the community of Stanton Hill is crime, which local people say has increased recently, reports the BBC's Anthony Bartram.

There is talk of muggings, doors being kicked in, low-level violent attacks and drug use.

Mr Hoon claimed for expenses for his constituency home

There are a lot of welfare concerns here. There is a relatively high unemployment rate here. Social housing is another issue.

But they are in danger of being overshadowed by questions about the expenses claimed by their local MP.

As MPs go, Geoff Hoon is quite a local man. But people lump him in with politicians in general, and this row has sort of confirmed their worst fears about them.

There is little if any sympathy. People here all just think it is an absolute disgrace.

They just simply do not see how politicians can justify their level of expenses, when people here are struggling to get council houses.

A local councillor said it would be a challenge on the campaign trail for the European and local elections, to talk about anything other than the expenses row.

Voters were going to think all politicians were "on the fiddle", she feared.

And there is a concern that this could open the door for the BNP.