Tory MP who claimed moat cleaning on his expenses has been handed a peerage

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A Conservative MP who claimed expenses to clean the moat on his country estate is to return to Parliament to vote on laws again.

Douglas Hogg, former MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, caused public outrage after claiming £2,200 on one of the most extravagant symbols of the 2009 expenses scandal.

But Mr Hogg, who did stood down at the 2010 general election after the outcry, will now return to Parliament as a life peer.

David Cameron has given Mr Hogg a seat in the House of Lords along with 25 other Conservatives, including William Hague, David Willetts, and George Young.

Mr Hogg, soon to be Lord Hogg, repaid the cost of the cleaning under pressure from his party but maintained that he had not actually claimed the money.

"I entirely understand the public anger that has erupted over expenses. The current system is deeply flawed; we parliamentarians have got it wrong and I apologise for that failure which is both collective and personal," he said at the time.

Labour MP Wes Streeting said the Prime Miniser had treated the public with disdain by elevating Mr Hogg to the Lords.

“Hogg peerage is two fingers to the people, who are still outraged by the expenses scandal. David Cameron hasn't learned anything, has he?” he tweeted.

Labour leadership frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn said the House of Lords should be abolished.

“The House of Lords is now getting a bit ridiculous … it’s ludicrous, I think there can be no defence of an unelected second chamber," he said.

“I would favour abolition of the House of Lords and I would favour an elected second chamber based on the regions and nations of the UK.”

Among other peerages announced by the Government were former Liberal Democrat leader Ming Campbell, and former MP Sir Alan Beith.

Labour politicians nominated for the unelected chamber include former Home Secretary David Blunkett, Alistair Darling, and London Mayoral hopeful Tessa Jowell.