Nigel Rock PPC Speaks Out On MPs' Expenses Row

10.22.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th May 2009

Nigel Rock PPC visits Westminster

Nigel Rock, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for the new constituency of Kenilworth & Southam, has issued the following statement concerning the ongoing row over Westminster MPs expenses.

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I believe that it is the aura of secrecy that pervades many areas of government that is a key culprit in the expenses row. It is the spotlight of publicity that has revealed the scandals. If MPs had been more open in the first place, public pressure would have produced proper control, scrutiny and more ethical behaviour by elected representatives. However Conservative and Labour MPs have fought Lib Dem proposals to allow more scrutiny of their affairs.

Any person regardless of the walk of life from which they come should be able to be an elected representative without harm to their financial well being. This means having reasonable expenses met from the public purse, but not profiting by expenses claims. It is on this basis that most private sector organisations proceed. There should be remuneration for the post that is consistent with having a job - this means that MPs should not have outside jobs. If they do, the income from those other jobs should be deducted from their salary.

The Daily Telegraph seems to have considered that political balance should apply to the Lib Dems in this story, contrary to their normal practice where Lib Dems are generally ignored! Its reports from 13 May on Lib Dem MPs can be summarised as follows:

• Nick Clegg. Claims expenses to limit. Claimed (properly) £760 for repair to path to Sheffield home. Mistakenly claimed personal phone calls £80 - repaid.

• Chris Huhne. Trouser press for 2nd home (£119) delivered to main home - repaid. Bought chocolate Hob Nobs on expenses.

• Vince Cable. Takes train home - no claims for 2nd home. Claimed London weighting. Refused MP's pay rise.

• Ming Campbell. £10000 to refurbish London flat after 20 years. Claims for food and subsistence in London on when the house not siting, but there on parliamentary business.

• Andrew George. Daughter's name on insurance for London flat. Daughter visits and keeps some belongings there.

• Alan Reid. Claimed for hotel bills within constituency Argyll and Bute when could not get ferries back to mainland.

• Steve Webb. Claimed expenses of moving flats in London - £8400.

• Lembit Opik. Claimed (but did not receive) £2499 for plasma TV because claim was put in during period when Parliament was dissolved.

• Julia Goldsworthy. Claimed furniture (£4954) properly but only just within the deadlines. Claimed (proper) food allowance.

• Norman Baker. Has campaigned for greater disclosure - was refused claims for bicycle and computer he says, to make a point.

These items have been reported in a sensational way with only slightly more subdued billing that the huge and inappropriate claims for "flipped" second homes, swimming pools and chandeliers from Tory and Labour. In general the conduct of Liberal Democrat MPs seems to have been much more within the spirit of the rules than that of many Tory and Labour MPs.

At a local level, most Councillors, of all parties, see themselves as serving the public and receive modest recompense for their services - some however have been in receipt of surprisingly large sums from the taxpayer. The two tier system of Councils is responsible for a level of duplication in services which needs addressing. Duplication also applies to certain Councillors (generally those on both County, District and other political appointments) who have been in receipt of eyebrow raising figures supplementing their household income - some in husband and wife "teams" as Councillors. There are some prominent Conservatives in Warwickshire who have been beneficiaries of these arrangements, and who may have questions to answer.