United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal grandees’ of the party. On 12 May, the Leader of the Opposition, David Cameron, announced that all questionable claims by the Shadow Cabinet would be repaid. The Liberal Democrats expenses were revealed last of the three main parties, followed by Sinn Féin members' claims in which it was reported that the five Sinn Féin MPs together had claimed nearly £500,000 in second home allowances, despite never taking up their seats at Westminster due to the party's abstentionist policy. Sinn Féin stated that its members often have to travel to London on parliamentary business. The claims published by "The Daily Telegraph"
Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 parliamentary privilege could not be used to prevent the IPSA from carrying out investigations against Members of Parliament, however this clause was voted down in the House of Commons by 250-247. The Act also creates a criminal offence of providing false or misleading information for allowances claims, punishable by a fine and/or up to 12 months imprisonment. Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 The Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 (c.13) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that entered into force in part on 21 July 2009, largely as a response to the Parliamentary expenses scandal. The Act was considered