Cameron Backs Minister Sayeeda Warsi Amid Expenses Dispute

Prime Minister David Cameron backed Sayeeda Warsi, co-chairwoman of the Conservative Party and a member of his Cabinet, amid allegations that she claimed an accommodation allowance while staying with a friend rent-free.

Warsi had not offered to resign following the report published in the Sunday Times newspaper yesterday, Cameron’s spokeswoman Vickie Sheriff said. Warsi today asked Paul Kernaghan, the House of Lords standards commissioner, to investigate the accusation, his office said.

“Yes, he has full confidence in Baroness Warsi,” Sheriff told reporters in London today. “She is happy to cooperate with any investigation.”

Warsi says she made an “appropriate payment” to a friend, Conservative Party official Naweed Khan, for the nights she stayed at his London apartment. Khan supported the assertion, although the owner of the property, Wafik Moustafa, said he hadn’t received money from Warsi.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gonzalo Vina in London at gvina@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net