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Cleared Dewsbury MP 'to resume ministerial career'
Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik is expected to resume his ministerial career after being cleared by a watchdog over his housing arrangements, sources said.
The former justice minister stepped down last month pending an investigation into whether he had breached the ministerial code but will be among junior ministerial appointments announced as part of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's reshuffle.
"Naturally, I am very pleased and relieved that the inquiry into allegations that I had breached the ministerial code has cleared me of any wrongdoing," he said.
"Although I, along with my friends and family, never doubted the outcome, it has undoubtedly been an incredibly stressful period".
An independent inquiry was launched by parliamentary watchdog Sir Philip Mawer after a report in The Daily Telegraph alleged that Mr Malik claimed tens of thousands of pounds on his second home in London while renting his constituency home for less than 100 a week.
These claims were said to include 2,600 for a home cinema system - which was cut in half by the Commons Fees Office - 730 for a "massage chair", and 65 for a court summons for the non-payment of council tax.
Mr Malik criticised the reporting of the allegations concerning his second home and constituency office in Dewsbury, saying it led people to believe the inquiry was about expenses, rather than an alleged breach of the Ministerial Code.
He said: "I was angered and hurt by the false allegations in The Telegraph newspaper article and the media frenzy that ensued.
"It took me 15 years to build my name and reputation and tragically it was trashed in one mad media day."
A statement from the office of Mr Malik, who was given the full backing of his constituency party after the allegations were disclosed, said the conclusion of the inquiry paved the way for his return to government.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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