Gordon Brown has defended two cabinet ministers who did not pay capital gains tax on home sales - a day after calling Hazel Blears' behaviour "unacceptable".
The PM's spokesman said James Purnell and Geoff Hoon had acted within the letter and spirit of the law.
He had criticised Ms Blears who chose to repay the money despite also not apparently breaking any rules.
But the PM says he has "full confidence" in Ms Blears and she says she is "getting on with the job".
It reported that Mr Purnell had not paid capital gains tax (CGT) on his designated "second home" - and had claimed expenses for "tax advice" on the sale.
Mr Hoon sold a property on which he did not claim expenses. But the Telegraph said he had claimed it was his main home for CGT purposes, when he had been living in a "grace and favour" flat and renting it out.
Both said they were not liable for CGT and had had their claims checked over by accountants and Revenue and Customs.
Poor old Gord can’t even be consistent on being inconsistent.
“Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”-Oscar Wilde
Angus
Angus Dei on all and sundry
NHS Behind the headlines
Angus Dei-NHS The Other Side
The PM's spokesman said James Purnell and Geoff Hoon had acted within the letter and spirit of the law.
He had criticised Ms Blears who chose to repay the money despite also not apparently breaking any rules.
But the PM says he has "full confidence" in Ms Blears and she says she is "getting on with the job".
It reported that Mr Purnell had not paid capital gains tax (CGT) on his designated "second home" - and had claimed expenses for "tax advice" on the sale.
Mr Hoon sold a property on which he did not claim expenses. But the Telegraph said he had claimed it was his main home for CGT purposes, when he had been living in a "grace and favour" flat and renting it out.
Both said they were not liable for CGT and had had their claims checked over by accountants and Revenue and Customs.
Poor old Gord can’t even be consistent on being inconsistent.
“Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”-Oscar Wilde
Angus
Angus Dei on all and sundry
NHS Behind the headlines
Angus Dei-NHS The Other Side
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