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MPs’ expenses: Watchdog announces review of spending on PR firms

openDemocracy investigation revealed how MPs could potentially pay friends on expenses to help fight elections

MPs’ expenses: Watchdog announces review of spending on PR firms
A review of how MPs claim expenses has been announced following an openDemocracy investigation - Grandriver/Getty Images
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The Parliamentary spending watchdog has announced a review of how MPs claim expenses following an investigation by openDemocracy.

In February, we revealed how MPs had claimed more than £1m from the public purse for PR agencies and private spin doctors, with contracts being swept up by a band of little-known media firms in Westminster.

In many cases, the companies enjoyed close personal ties to MPs themselves, with lax rules allowing contracts to be awarded without competitive tender.