Margaret Moran - Improper Use of House of Commons Stationery

Improper Use of House of Commons Stationery

In May 2009, the Financial Times alleged Moran mis-used stationery to support eQuality Networks Ltd (EQN) T/A eQuality Network, a non-profit group which claims that it helps impoverished communities. Moran is currently an associate (listed as Margaret Booker) and was the unpaid chair of the organisation though was paid £6,052.49 expenses in 2007, whilst her fiancé is a registered Company Director. Moran repeatedly used House of Commons headed paper to write letters in support of EQN, without disclosing her involvement with the company. The Financial Times obtained copies of letters written by Moran on House of Commons headed paper supporting eQuality Networks funding bids and personal invitations to eQuality Networks events. Moran denied committing the offence and claimed her husband "has no part in the running of the organisation".

In 2007 a Spanish Court ruled that she had illegally blocked a right of way at her holiday home in Carataunas, Spain, by installing a gate and digging up the path with an excavator. She was ordered to make the area as it was. She used House of Commons headed paper during the dispute, including a note written in Spanish and English which said "Please note – this road is private & closed. Please remove your motorcycle from our land. Moran family."

When these claims appeared in the Mail On Sunday, Moran denied them and contacted libel lawyers Carter Ruck who were subsequently shown the note on House of Commons letterhead that the newspaper had obtained. The case was then dropped, but Moran had incurred a £881.25 legal bill. She charged it to her Incidental Office Expenses account, which is meant to cover the running cost of an MP's constituency office.