from www.dailymail.co.uk – Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is to cash in on her dodgy expenses claims by presenting a documentary about pornography.
The ex-MP was one of the most high profile casualties of the expenses scandal after she mistakenly charged taxpayers for the cost of hiring two blue movies.
Now she is to present a documentary for BBC Radio 5 Live, entitled ‘Porn Again’, to be aired on 3 March.
The programme will investigate the pornography industry in the UK – meeting those who make, watch and comment on porn.
Ms Smith will talk for the first time since porn films appeared in her MP’s expenses claims about her own attitudes to the industry. She also speaks to film-makers and actors, philosophers and feminists, politicians and commentators.
Last night she said: ‘As I know from my personal experience, porn fascinates us – media and public alike. But we actually know very little about what it’s like to work in the industry and what porn is doing to our society, our children and our relationships.
‘In making this programme, I’ve been able to challenge my own views and attitudes and I want others to have the chance to join the debate too.’
In 2008 – months before the main expenses scandal broke – it emerged that she had mistakenly claimed for the cost of two pornographic films.
Her husband was forced to admit that he had watched the films.
The BBC says that the programme will see her question her own opinions and experience along the way. She will consider whether pornography damages the men and women who make it and watch it.
And she will also look at the accessibility of porn on the internet. The hour-long documentary will also include contributions from other politicians and feminist thinkers.
The 48-year-old former school teacher said it had been a mistake to submit the bill, which also included two other pay-per-view films. Her husband Richard Timney – also her parliamentary aide – publicly took the blame.
But she tried to put in a bill for the adult films as part of a £67 television package bill in June 2008. She apologised for the mistake, as she had submitted a bill for her internet package.
Ms Smith had not been at the family home in Redditch, Worcestershire, on the two nights when the films had been viewed.
She lost her seat in Reddich at the election last year.
Ms Smith has applied to be a vice chairman of the BBC Trust. The two and a half day a week job comes with a £77,000 salary – far more than an MP’s with shorter hours.
Ms Smith has already secured other lucrative jobs. She is a consultant for KPMG management consultants, which won lucrative contracts when she was Home Secretary.
She is also an adviser to Sarina Russo Job Access, a company run by a friend of Tony and Cherie Blair.