Ashok Kumar dead, it is an ex-MP, he's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace!

It would appear that we have a by-election coming up folk.

Labour MP Ashok Kumar has died, his office said today.

He was found this morning at his home in Middlesbrough, a spokesman said, in what was being treated as a 'sudden accidental death'.

I covered his dubious claims and non appearance for the Gurkha vote. Oh and this little tale of MP sleaze and graft involving your money:

A Labour MP has let a female friend live rent-free in a lavish London flat he bought using taxpayers' money after he moved out.

Ashok Kumar handed the woman the keys to the apartment - which boasts a mirror above the bath - when he purchased a new £400,000 home nearby.

The backbencher then 'flipped' his second home designation so he could pay the mortgage interest on the new property using his generous MPs' expenses.

The Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP also went on a £10,000 spending spree to kit out the new apartment in Victoria, central London.

Mr Kumar, the Parliamentary aide to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, is under pressure today amid claims he had misused his allowances to benefit a friend.

The arrangement came to light when the Commons authorities finally published up to one million receipts detailing the expenses claims of every MP since 2004.

The MP moved into his new flat in early 2005 - the first financial year covered by the receipts - because it was 'better quality'.

He said he was unable to sell the first flat, which he bought in Westminster in 1997, because it required £80,000 of repair work so his friend moved in 'temporarily'.

But she has now lived there for nearly four years, paying only utility bills. There is no mortgage. It has sparked concerns that he has built up a property portfolio paid for by the taxpayer.

In the words of Monty Python(sort of) -

Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of MP's.

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