Clockwise from top left: Lord Clarke of Hampstead, Baroness Uddin, Lord Hanningfield, Elliot Morley, David Chaytor, Jim Devine A report by Sir Thomas Legg, the independent auditor, showed that abuse of the system was far more widespread than the few... Full Article at The Telegraph
February 1, 2010 6:46 PM EST -- Net interest margin increased to 3.33% for the fourth quarter -- Capital ratios were 8.22% (Tier 1 Leverage) and 12.80% (Total Risk-Based Capital) at December 31, 2009 -- Mortgage loan originations reached nearly... Full Article at Street Insider
An airport spokesman says a US Airways flight aborted takeoff at a West Virginia airport and came to rest in lightweight concrete material installed to prevent planes from going over the mountaintop runway. Full Article at Fresno Bee
Marc Forster is attached to direct The Chancellor Manuscript for Paramount. The Robert Ludlum political thriller was acquired by the studio for $4 million in 2005. Variety reports Peter... Full Article at Hollywood.com
A particular challenge has proved to be the widespread lack of proper evidence on the record from MPs to support substantial payments, especially of mortgage interest, even though this was expressly required by the rules
I was the first to come out and say that MPs had to pay back some money. Never mind that they were acting within the rules, never mind that they were given permission at the time. The fact is that the system was wrong.
It was sloppy ... He (Legg] asked me about mortgage repayments, when I have never had a mortgage. He started trying to reclaim money for rent from people who hadn't been renting. So the thing was full of elementary errors. It had also cost over £1m and it is £142,000 for six months' work for him.
It doesn't send a great message.