A Conservative minister charged taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds to stay at a private members club where he would allegedly meet his mistress.
Robert Halfon, who suffers from a form of cerebral palsy, claimed more than £30,000 in expenses to stay at the East India Club from 2010 to 2014.
The minister is allowed to claim for overnight accommodation, despite living within a commutable distance from Westminster, due to his disability.
East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public schools’ club has an annual fee of £1,000 and it costs up to £267 per night for a suite.
Mr Halfon admitted last week that he cheated on his partner, after allegations of blackmail. It has been reported that a Tory party aide, Mark Clarke, attempted to obtain photos of Mr Halfon leaving the East India Club with the woman, to allegedly blackmail the minister without portfolio.
Mr Halfon, who has a long-term partner but is not married, finished the affair in May, according to the Telegraph. He is yet to release details of his expense claims covering the six-month affair, but a spokeswoman for the MP confirmed to The Sunday Times that the woman in question had not stayed at the club overnight.
