UK Muslim Minister Resigns to Clear Name

London, NU Online
Seeking to clear his name from media accusations of breaching his ministerial code over expenses, Britain's first Muslim minister Shahid Malik resigned on Friday, May 15, till an inquiry into the allegations completes.

"I spoke with the Prime Minister (Gordon Brown) this morning and we agreed that the best way forward in the face of this specific allegation was for me to step to one side as an interim measure and allow (Standards chief) Sir Philip Mawer to look into the matter," Malik, the justice minister, said in a statement.<>

"I'm pleased to have this opportunity to clear my name."

Amid rising public anger over expenses by politicians, The Daily Telegraph alleges that Malik had claimed the maximum amount allowable - £66,827 over three years - on his second home in London.

It says this happened while Malik obtained a discounted rent of £100 a week on his main family home in his Dewsbury constituency, which he paid out of his own pocket.

"I am confident that there has been no such breach," Malik said denouncing the Telegraph's allegations as fabrications.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already asked Sir Philip, his official adviser on ministerial interests, to investigate the claims against Malik.

"(I) look forward to the findings of the inquiry so that I can continue to serve my constituents as their MP and the country as a minister with my head held high," Malik said.

Brown's spokesman said Malik would return to office if he was cleared and no replacement was being appointed in the meantime.

Malik was picked by Brown in June 2007 to join a diverse cab of young secretaries and ministers of different backgrounds.

He was the first Muslim to be elected to the House of Commons for the Labour party in 2005 for the constituency of Dewsbury.

Bloodfest

Malik said he is a casualty of a politically-motivated media campaign against MPs, calling for the media "bloodfest" to stop.

"I think it's really important that we try to draw a line behind this... the thirst for blood from some elements of the media just seems like it's unstoppable."

Malik warned that the endless media stories about expenses was in danger of "decimating" democracy.

A number of the UK media outlets, mainly the Telegraph and The Daily Mail, have published a series of what they called MPs expenses scandals, calling for an action.

The campaign claimed its first victims on Thursday, with Labour former minister Elliot Morley being suspended pending an investigation into his expenses.

Tory Parliamentary aide Andrew McKay also quit his post over the allegations.

Former cab minster Clare Short was also forced to apologize for what she described "an honest mistake" for claiming too much £8,000-expenses on her second home while in office in 2005.

The Birmingham Ladywood MP also repaid the sum in 2006 and said the media were trying to "smear" all MPs.

Conservative MP David Davies even warned that many MPs are considering quitting even if they have done nothing wrong, fearing they would be seen as "a thief on the make".

"This whole thing has completely undermined the reputation generally of every single MP," the Monmouth MP told BBC Radio Wales.

"A lot of people are saying 'What's it all about, should we get out, have I had enough?'"

"And I think a lot of them will find the public will be helpful in pushing them in that direction anyway." (iol/dar)