Seven Tory MPs make an expensive mistake
James Forsyth 8:52pm
The vast majority of Tory MPs have, at David Cameron's request, published further details of their expenses. The right to know forms they have had to produce are not hugely revelatory but do bring more information into the public domain which is to be welcomed. On my very quick flick through the most interesting things I noticed were that David Davis employs his wife as his executive secretary—the only top Tory to do so—and that David Cameron’s mobile bill is less than a 100 pounds a month.
Not every Tory MP, though, was prepared to open themselves up to even this fairly modest level of scrutiny. Miranda Richardson points out that seven Tory MPs have withheld their details from Cameron’s register. They are Sir Paul Beresford, Bill Cash, Christopher Chope, Sir John Stanley, Anthony Steen, Nicholas and Ann Winterton. In the current climate, one can’t help but feel that these MPs have made a huge error of judgement.
Update: The Times reports: "Bill Cash was expected to submit his claim by the end of yesterday. Sir Paul Beresford did not claim anything, Tory sources said."
PS For some reason, I typed nine at first. That's now fixed.
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anon
July 16th, 2008 9:08pm Report this commentor even seven Tory MPs - can't you count?
Anan
July 16th, 2008 10:36pm Report this commentTut tut. Standards are slipping!
James Forsyth
July 16th, 2008 10:39pm Report this commentAnan, I know, I'm sorry. Just a dumb error.
Verity
July 16th, 2008 10:42pm Report this commentI have a cat called Anan.
Ed
July 17th, 2008 4:34am Report this commentI'm surprised that Bill Cash did not fess up with his details. He must know that people will be particularly interested to know about his expenses, what with a name like that and all. :-)
Water
July 17th, 2008 5:15am Report this comment"Politicians need to do everything they can to regain the trust of the British people, and transparency has a key part to play in that process." Long as this doesn't involve leaving things on the train I haven't lost my respect just yet.
john problem
July 17th, 2008 9:31am Report this commentMy MP friend told me that he wasn't going to publish details for a while yet. If he did so, there might be a back-lash against his getting the kitchen renovation finished. Also he said his good lady hadn't yet bought the plants for the conservatory. And his teenage kid wants to go to the US for school hols. And mother-in-law wants one of those new baths. The situtation is made worse, he confided, because there is no guarantee he'll have a job next year. Most probably not one that pays all those expenses and stuff. Anyway, he added, we're all off on holiday now until October so that's that.
Hazel Blears' P45
July 17th, 2008 9:35am Report this commentVerity -
I have one called Kofi.
Perhaps we should form a club.
Victoria Street
July 17th, 2008 10:35am Report this commentMight be worth mentioning that, in addition to 7 Conservative MPs, more than 440 Labour, LibDem, Scots/Welsh Nats, Unionists, Sinn Fein, Independents, UKIP MPs have not published their expenses either.
Victoria Street
July 17th, 2008 10:41am Report this commentIt also appears that Sir Paul Beresford has not filed his form because he does not claim any expenses at all... see Rosa Prince on Three Line Whip, or check yourself... nothing, nada. Top that.
He hardly deserves to be on a 'list of shame', does he?
John Page
July 17th, 2008 11:08am Report this commentThe Wintertons are hardly a surprise?
Sir Buffy de Vere
July 17th, 2008 12:54pm Report this commentThe MP for Stone has failed to submit his details? This will lead to questions for Cash...
Verity
July 17th, 2008 1:18pm Report this commentHazel Blears' P45- Eeeeek! I don't like the comparison at all! Kofi Annan's a sleaze and a thug. Ananda, in Hindi, means 'joy' and lightness of spirit. I call him Anan for short.
Still, I am sure your cat has risen above the association, as cats are wont to do.
Sir Buffy de Vere - V good!
Marian C
July 17th, 2008 2:20pm Report this commentAll of the Conservative MP who have refused / withheld their expense details should be given the boot by DC sooner, rather than later.
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