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Labour Politician Offers Support for David Camerons Clean up Campaign
Posted on 15/07/2008
David Camerons proposals to take action to stop dubious expenses claims by Tory MPs and MEPs has received praise from a local Labour politician and prominent Europhile, Eric Goodyer who is Labours Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Charnwood. Eric offered his support for Camerons plans and pointed out that Charnwoods MP Stephen Dorrell claimed £100,453 expenses last year and it is all declared on public websites. Camerons move follows a series of scandals, which has included Derek Conway MP leaving the Party after revelations that he used taxpayers money to pay his son, and the more recent resignation of Sir Giles Chichester as leader of the European Tory Group. Eric Goodyer said “It is essential that elected representatives are honest and seen to be honest”.
However a memo circulating in Brussels written by an unknown Tory MEP reveals deep concern with David Camerons proposals, with the possibility of some Tory MEPs refusing to comply with the new rules. Amongst the arguments presented is a statement that the reform on expenses could mean that Tory MEPs would stop attending Parliament as there would be little incentive to go.Eric Goodyer condemned this statement saying that “elected representatives should attend Parliament as a matter of duty, not to claim the expenses. Whoever did write this memo should resign.”
The author of the memo (claimed to be local MEP Roger Helmer by the Guardian Newspaper), finishes off by warning that if MEPs are deselected for refusing to agree to Camerons new rules on expenses then the Tory Party could leave itself open to claims for substantial damages. It is unknown what will happen next, Cameron has said that he intends to send out a senior representative to sort our his rebellious MEPs.
The leader of Labours MEPs, Gary Titley, said: "Finally, after eight years, the Tory Party has caught up with the Labour MEPs regime for dealing with expenses."
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker told the BBC: "The reality is that Tory MEPs are a by-word for inappropriate claiming of expenses. The words Tory and sleaze go together as easily as cheese and sandwich."
UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said Mr Camerons proposals were "more a whitewash than a deep clean".