Ancram Criticised By Local Lib Dems

3.00.00pm GMT Mon 11th Feb 2008

In the wake of this weekend's revelations on local Conservative MP Michael Ancram's expenses which closely follow the unseemly spectacle of disgraced ex-conservative Derek Conway it is clear that the current system is unsustainable.

Wendy Johnson, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Devizes constituency said, "At a time when public trust in politicians and the political process is at an all-time low it is unacceptable for MP's to be able to claim living expenses that are not related to the job of being an MP (such as home-maintenance) and then charge that to the tax-payer. It seems wrong to be able to put family members and friends on the public payroll with no independent scrutiny.

To be able to claim normal living expenses such as council tax as a chargeable expense or to claim any amount under £250 with no proof of expenditure defies belief. Politicians must accept that their privileged status should not protect them from the basic standards that ordinary voters are expected to abide by on a daily basis."

Wendy went on to say, "No doubt our local MP can provide good reasons why he has charged the UK taxpayer for the expenses he has claimed and we look forward to hearing them in due course. But the rules should be clear and well understood by all. There should be an open and independent procedure to audit expenses with clear mechanisms to investigate any issues that arise."

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