Pounds 60,000 Bill for Golden Couple Who Lost Shine over Expenses ; Husband and Wife among MPs Hit Hardest in Crackdown by Watchdog [Edition 2]

Beginning of article

HUSBAND and wife MPs Andrew Mackay and Julie Kirkbride have been forced to repay more than Pounds 60,000 as expenses watchdogs finally cracked down on their claims for public money.

Their massive payback, revealed for the first time today, follows months of criticism that the couple exploited the system even though they shared their main family home. Once known as Parliament's "golden couple", Mr Mackay was a key aide to David Cameron and Ms Kirkbride was expected to get a ministerial post before the expenses scandal erupted last year.

Both have now decided to quit the Commons. Their repayments, Pounds 31,193 by Mr Mackay and Pounds 29,243 by Ms Kirkbride, …