WHY DOES ANY SOUTH HERTFORDSHIRE MP NEED A SECOND HOME AT TAXPAYERS' EXPENSE?

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Jul 2008

While everyone else is having to pull in their belts, the MP gravy train just seems to be accelerating

St Albans Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Sandy Walkington has expressed his total dismay at last week's parliamentary vote to keep second home allowances together with the so-called John Lewis list of "allowable" expenses and a rejection of any external audit of MPs' expenditure.

"While everyone else is having to pull in their belts as the economic downturn bites, the MP gravy train just seems to be accelerating. It sets the worst sort of example.

"I am as good a customer of John Lewis as the next person," Sandy said. "But I expect to spend my own money when I shop there, not get a virtually blank cheque from the taxpayer.

"Indeed I cannot understand why any south Hertfordshire MP needs a taxpayer-funded second home at all. MPs work in London. But so do a huge number of St Albans residents. They commute to and from the capital at their own expense, just as I did for many years. Many in the City now work far later hours than MPs since family-friendly hours were introduced at Westminster.

"Of course I understand the need for two homes for MPs who live far from London, but it is surely indefensible when a constituency is within a half-hour commute." Sandy ponted out that Grant Shapps as MP for Welwyn Hatfield lives in his own home in his constituency and does not claim any second home allowance. "Why isn't that the case for every local MP?" Sandy asks.

Sandy also attacked the decision to reject external audit of expenses and not to require receipts for items under £25. "I have worked at all levels in the public and private sectors," he said. "It was a matter of course everywhere that you present receipts with all your expenses. Why should MPs regard themselves as outside this normal code of business behaviour?

"There is already a low enough public regard for politicians and parliamentary democracy because of the high profile antics of a few members. But last week's vote did nothing to address that public dismay. I am proud that not one LibDem MP voted with the majority on these matters."

ENDS

For more information please call Sandy Walkington on 07802 177317